For keeping eyes healthy, tears are necessary as they lubricate the eyes and prevent the eye surface from drying out. People with dry eye syndrome do not have enough tears to lubricate. Although there is no cure for dry eye, all treatments for dry eyes are focused on alleviating the symptoms associated with it. Given below are treatments for reducing symptoms of  dry eyes.

1. Artificial tears eye drops
Artificial teardrops are available over the counter and are mostly recommended by your health care provider. These tear eye drops help to supplement natural tear production. Opt for preservative-free artificial tear solutions as preservatives will further irritate your eyes.

2. Ointments
For treating dry eye, ointments are another over-the-counter option. As they tend to stay in the eyes longer, they are recommended for overnight use. Eye ointments contain paraffin to help moisten and lubricate the eyes’ surface to relieve eye dryness and irritation.

3. Prescription eye drops
For dry eyes treatment, prescription eye drops such as Restasis and Xiidra may be prescribed by your doctor. These prescription eye drops help relieve inflammation in the cornea and usually take few days to show results. In some cases, corticosteroid eye drops may be needed to reduce inflammation.

Antibiotic eye drops are also recommended for some people with dry eyes to reduce eyelid inflammation and help with oil secretion into your tears. There are tear-stimulating medicines like pilocarpine and cevimeline that also work to increase tear production.

4. Nutritional supplements
As a part of holistic dry eye treatment, supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids may be recommended. Taking nutritional supplements may also help increase tear production.

5. Cleaning the eyelids
This is done to help open clogged meibomian glands. Warm compresses at certain temperatures are applied to the closed eyelids so that the lipid produced by the gland can be melted and cleared away. Some other treatments for cleaning the eyelids include eyelid-warming masks, infrared heaters, intense pulsed light therapy, and special eyelid massage.

6. Surgery
If all othe r procedures are not helping with concrete results, surgery will be recommended to close the tear drainage holes in the inner corner of the eyelids. This will allow the tears to remain on the eyes longer. The surgery may be either temporary or permanent. Insertion of punctal plugs in the tear ducts is a surgical procedure for dry eyes. These plugs can be removed if needed. With this treatment, the natural tears stay in the eyes longer which further reduces the symptoms of dry eyes.

7. Alternative remedies
For treating mild dry eye symptoms, a few things you can do include blink more often, take frequent breaks during screen use, clean your eyelids, use a humidifier and wear sunglasses when outdoors. 

For the health of the eye, adequate tear production is essential. If left untreated, complications can include eye discomfort, fluctuations in vision, damage to the cornea, and in extreme cases, permanent scarring.