Dry Eye Treatment Guide

Dry eye affects millions of people and is one of the most common causes of irritation, blurred vision and discomfort.

Understanding why your eyes feel dry is the first step in choosing the right treatment.

At Dry Eye Doc, our approach follows clinical optometry principles used across UK practice — broken into simple, actionable steps.

STEP 1: Understand Your Type of Dry Eye

There are 2 main types:

  1. Evaporative Dry Eye (blocked eyelid glands)

Most common — caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

Symptoms include:
✔ Burning or stinging
✔ Gritty sensation
✔ Worse after screen use
✔ Eyes feel dry but may water excessively

Best treatments:

  • Heat mask
  • Lid wipes / eyelid cleanser
  • Lubricating drops

➡ Shop: Heat Masks | Eyelid Hygiene | Eye Drops

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  1. Aqueous Deficiency Dry Eye (low tear production)

Less common — reduced tear volume.

Symptoms include:
✔ Constant dryness
✔ Blurred vision that improves with blinking
✔ Dryness worse in wind/aircon
✔ Contact lens intolerance

Best treatments:

  • High-strength hyaluronic acid drops
  • Gel drops
  • Night lubricating ointment

➡ Shop: Eye Drops | Night Gel Therapy

 

STEP 2: Treat Eyelid Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

If dryness is worse after screen time or late in the day, you likely have poor gland function.

What to do:

🔥 Warm compress (heat mask)
10 minutes daily to soften blocked glands.

🧼 Lid cleaning / wipes
Clear debris and reduce bacterial load.

💧 Lubricating drops
Support surface hydration.

➡ Shop recommended products:
• Optase Moist Heat Mask
• Blephasol Duo
• Optase TTO Wipes

This is the most effective route for evaporative dry eye — pharmacies do not explain this.

STEP 3: Lubricate the Eye Surface

Different drops do different jobs:

✔ Daytime dryness: Thealoz Duo / Hyabak / Hycosan
✔ Severe dryness: Hylo-Forte
✔ Overnight symptoms: Xailin Night Gel / Blink Plus Gel
✔ Post-surgery / sensitive eyes: Clinitas vials

➡ See our full range under Eye Drops.

STEP 4: Support the Surface Overnight

Many people wake with worse symptoms — this is often incomplete eyelid closure or low tear stability overnight.

Night gels form a longer-lasting coating.

Recommended options:
• Xailin Night Gel
• Blink Intensive Tears Plus Gel

➡ Shop: Night Relief & Gels

STEP 5: Ongoing Maintenance & Lifestyle

Dry eye is often chronic, meaning long-term support helps.

Simple daily habits:

✔ Blink fully when using screens
✔ Follow the 20–20–20 rule
✔ Avoid rubbing eyes
✔ Drink adequate water
✔ Consider omega-3 intake
✔ Clean lids regularly (especially if you wear makeup or extensions)

Lifestyle medicine particularly benefits:

  • Women over 40
  • Heavy screen users
  • People in air-conditioned environments
  • Contact lens wearers

STEP 6: When to Seek Professional Assessment

If you have:

⚠️ sudden pain
⚠️ severe redness
⚠️ flashes or floaters
⚠️ vision loss
⚠️ trauma or chemical contact

Seek urgent assessment from an optometrist, GP or NHS urgent eye service.

Our Recommendations Are Simple:

If your dryness worsens later in the day or after screens ⇒
Start with heat + lid hygiene + drops.

If your dryness is constant or worse on waking ⇒
Add night gel + intensive drops.

Explore our curated ranges:

🔹 Eye Drops
🔹 Heat Masks
🔹 Eyelid Hygiene
🔹 Night Therapy

Dry Eye Doc provides the tools — you choose what suits your symptoms.