Treating Dry Eye Syndrome

Overview of Treatment

The primary goal of dry eye syndrome (DES) treatment is to restore tear film homeostasis. Reflecting the multiple etiologies and forms of DES, there is a large number of management strategies to choose from. Selection of treatment modalities also depends on disease severity, which should be assessed before and during treatment. In most cases, the first-line treatment is symptomatic, usually with artificial tears and ointments to lessen the burden of the symptoms. Patients who do not respond to over-the-counter (OTC) medications require referral to an eye care professional. A number of additional pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options are available for symptom relief and to address the underlying cause(s), and are discussed in this section. The stepwise approach to management, recommended by the TFOS DEWS II panel and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), is discussed in Treatment Guidelines.