Dry eye—when your eyes don’t make enough tears or the tears they make are of poor quality—affects nearly 16 million Americans.Dry eye is more common in older people, those who wear contact lenses, and people who have certain autoimmune conditions likelupus.
However, not everyone with dry eye treats the condition. Some people do not know that they have the condition, while others find it difficult to treat.
There are a variety of reasons why it can be challenging to treatdry eye symptoms. Here are some ways you can find a treatment that works for you and get the most from it.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry Eye Treatments
Thetreatments for dry eyevary and depend on whether the condition is mild, moderate, or severe.
Dry Eye Syndrome Self-Care to Feel More in Control
Reasons You May Stop Your Dry Eye Treatments
Finding a dry eye treatment that works for you can be challenging. Even if you do find an option that is a good fit, it’s not always easy to keep up with the treatment for a variety of reasons.
Here are a few reasons why you might stop treating your dry eyes, as well as some tips for getting back on track.
Dry Eye Medications Cost Too Much
The list price for a month’s supply of commonly used prescription eye drops for dry eye (such as Cequa, Restasis, and Xiidra) is about $500 to $550.
When you first see the prices, you might worry that you won’t be able to afford the treatment and may not even consider these options because of the cost. However, know that most people do not pay full price for these eye drop treatments.
Here are some ways you might be able to get help paying for dry eye treatments:
Dry Eye Treatments Are Uncomfortable
If your dry eye treatments are uncomfortable or painful, let your eye doctor know. Both prescription eye drops and OTC lubricating eye drops can occasionally cause an allergic reaction.
There are a few reasons why your dry eye treatment could cause pain or discomfort, including:
What Causes Evaporative Dry Eyes?
Dry Eye Medications Are Not Working
You might be diligently using a treatment for dry eyes, such as artificial tears or prescription medication, but it’s just not helping.
There are a few reasons why the dry eye medication you use may not be working, such as:
If your treatment isn’t working, the first thing you should do is let your eye doctor know. They can help you figure out why it’s not helping and recommend what you should try next.
Are There Natural Treatments for Dry Eye?
You Run Out of Dry Eye Medication
Life gets busy, and thinking about refilling your dry eye medications can become just one more pesky item on your to-do list. Perhaps you finish up a prescription medication you’ve been given and then never contact your eye doctor’s office to refill it.
Here are a few things you can do if you find yourself consistently running out of your dry eye medications:
You’re Using Too Many Medications
If you have other health conditions that you need to treat daily, adding eye drops to your routine might feel like just another thing to keep track of. It can feel daunting, even if you know the products will help relieve your symptoms.
Here are a few tips for keeping track of your medications:
6 Conditions That Cause Dry Eyes
A Word From Verywell
There are a variety ofways to treat dry eye, but some people with the condition find it difficult to keep up with treatments. Side effects, treatments not working well, or costs can all be barriers to effectively managing dry eye symptoms.
If you’re having a hard time finding a treatment that works or you want to stop your treatment, talk to your eye doctor. Whether it’s finding a way to reduce the cost of your treatments, trying a new treatment, or addressing medications or other health conditions that are contributing to your symptoms, there are things you can do to get back on track and relieve your symptoms.
What You Need to Know Before Having Surgery for Dry Eyes
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Dry eye.Sun Pharmaceuticals.2 ways to save with Cequa.Novartis.Getting started on Xiidra.Allergan.Restasis cost.Allergan.Restasis cost.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Lubricating eye drops for the eye.deOliveira RC, Wilson SE.Practical guidance for the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic solutions in the management of dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol.3:1115-1122. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S184412Robertson D, UT Southwestern Medical Center.Severe dry eye: Advanced solutions to a common, chronic condition.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Dry eye.Sun Pharmaceuticals.2 ways to save with Cequa.Novartis.Getting started on Xiidra.Allergan.Restasis cost.Allergan.Restasis cost.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Lubricating eye drops for the eye.deOliveira RC, Wilson SE.Practical guidance for the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic solutions in the management of dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol.3:1115-1122. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S184412Robertson D, UT Southwestern Medical Center.Severe dry eye: Advanced solutions to a common, chronic condition.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eye Institute.Dry eye.Sun Pharmaceuticals.2 ways to save with Cequa.Novartis.Getting started on Xiidra.Allergan.Restasis cost.Allergan.Restasis cost.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Lubricating eye drops for the eye.deOliveira RC, Wilson SE.Practical guidance for the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic solutions in the management of dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol.3:1115-1122. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S184412Robertson D, UT Southwestern Medical Center.Severe dry eye: Advanced solutions to a common, chronic condition.
National Eye Institute.Dry eye.
Sun Pharmaceuticals.2 ways to save with Cequa.
Novartis.Getting started on Xiidra.
Allergan.Restasis cost.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Lubricating eye drops for the eye.
deOliveira RC, Wilson SE.Practical guidance for the use of cyclosporine ophthalmic solutions in the management of dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol.3:1115-1122. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S184412
Robertson D, UT Southwestern Medical Center.Severe dry eye: Advanced solutions to a common, chronic condition.
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