People with dry eye should avoid anything that may cause more dryness, such as an overly warm room, smoke, hair dryers, or wind. The treatment of dry eye involves a long-term commitment. It should be understood that the condition is not likely to be cured, but it can be managed. It is rare for this condition to cause permanent visual loss. Dry eye is usually a matter of the comfort of the eye and possibly a temporary blurring of vision.
Some artificial tears have preservatives that can cause side effects in people with dry eye.
These include burning, itching, and allergic reactions. There are preservative-free artificial tears that those individuals can use. If surgery is done, there is a very small risk of infection or reaction to any pain medicine used. If treatment is successful, no further treatment is needed. In many cases, however, people need ongoing treatment for quite some time.