Dry Eye: Can we Treat it Without Drops?

In many cases, yes — we can treat dry eye disease without drops. It is ideal to treat the cause of the disease (i.e. what is missing) rather than just the symptoms (i.e. what you feel).

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Using eye drops replaces what is missing from the eye's surface, and some drops may help treat an underlying cause, but drops alone are often not enough.

Dry eye disease can have many causes and several potential solutions. Here at Roses, we are committed to providing personalized options for your dry eye needs.

We can separate treatment into home and in-office treatments (excluding drops for the purpose of this blog).

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Home Treatments

Include:

• Heated eye masks – twice a day at 40°C for 10 minutes
• Lid cleansing routine – using an eyelid-specific cleanser
• Omega-3 oils – through diet or supplements (chia, flaxseed, fish oils, Lacritec supplement)
• Lifestyle changes – if you are willing to implement them
• Certain medications – as prescribed

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In-Clinic Treatments

• Blephasteam – goggles that warm your eyelids for 10 minutes, ideally followed by gland expression. Effects are slower but this is a more affordable option.
• Demodex/lid cleanser – such as in-office Blephadex treatments.
• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) – treats the area around the cheeks and orbit. Ideally followed by gland expression. Typically done in 4 sessions; effects take time to notice but can last 6 months to a year.
• LipiFlow – a machine that simultaneously warms and expresses the eyelid glands. Effects can last 1 to 2 years.

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The best treatment for dry eye disease is typically a combination of home therapies, lifestyle changes, supplements, and in-office treatments. Among the in-office options, a combination of IPL and LipiFlow tends to yield the greatest long-term benefit.