Without this balance, your eyes become dry and irritated and produce too many tears. The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have dry eye. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor for a complete exam. Your ophthalmologist is often able to diagnose dry eye by simply examining the eyes. Sometimes tests that measure tear production may be necessary.
Artificial tears are available without a prescription.
You may want to try several brands to find the one that you like best. Preservative-free eye drops are available if you are sensitive to the preservatives in artificial tears. If you need to use artificial tears more than every two hours, preservative-free brands may be better for you. Solid lid inserts that gradually release lubricants during the day may also be beneficial for some people. Some patients with mild dryness may benefit from blinking more frequently, especially when reading, driving, or watching television.