Rinsing contact lenses with water or spitting Saliva is full of bacteria, and tap water contains hazardous organisms that can cause eye infections and even blindness. In a pinch, distilled water, saline drops, or chilled boiling tap water can suffice. However, an effective treatment for dry eyes requires regular use of artificial tears to lubricate and moisten the surface of the eye. The use of water as an ocular medication has been popular throughout history, and there are many traditional remedies that include soaking cotton balls in alcohol or water and using them to apply to the eye as eyedrops. The oldest evidence of this practice was found on pottery used by members of the Semitic tribe of Israel and dates back about 9600 B.C. Today, this method is still commonly used in countries where oil products are not available or preferred. For example, Indian villagers rely on homemade eyedrops consisting of plain water with a few crystals of sodium chloride to relieve their country's shortage of antibiotics. The benefits of using water as an ocular medication include its cost effectiveness and its ability to treat multiple conditions simultaneously. Water is needed by the body to function properly, and when it isn't getting any it won't get better no matter what you do. Since water is needed for healthy vision as well, being deprived of it will cause problems within the eye itself.