Tear supplements are a basic therapy for dry eyes
Tear supplements are a backbone of the staggered therapy approach for dry Eye Disease.
Therapy with tear supplements usually improves the dryness and irritation of the eyes immediately … but typically only short-term with necessary replacements during the day.
However, the causes of the disease should also be considered and an attempt should be made to positively influence internal risk factors and particularly external risk factors by home remedies.
… and it is also important to think of an additional treatment of the eyelids (hygiene and care) that are typically involved and altered in Dry Eye Disease
Different types of tear supplements
There are very different types of tear supplements because the tear film consists of different substances:
Most tear supplements are aqueous solutions, since the tear film consists mainly of water - they differ in their viscosity:
special additives in some tear substitutes promise additional functions
Oil is an increasingly important part of tear supplements because the superficial oil layer on the surface of the tear film is important to retard the evaporation of the tear water. This is available e.g.:
as an aqueous tear substitute with a share of oil
as a pure oil, e.g. in the form of a liposomal spray - it is simply sprayed on the closed eyelids and finds its way to the surface of the eye and onto the tear film itself
Plant-based Herbal tear substitutes or Homeopathic eye drops are also available
=> here is more information on tear supplements as a backbone of dry eye therapy: If? - When? - Why? - What?
Overview Tear Supplements and other eye drops
for more information => please click on the desired type of tear substitute
All tear substitutes, which are selected and presented here, are free of preservatives - except possibly individual eye ointments and certain types of tear substitutes that are only available in a formulation with preservatives.
=> HERE is some deeper insight into Tear Supplements
Don´t forget about the eyelids !
In dry eye disease, changes in the eyelids are often found, especially on the edge of the eyelid (lid margin), which can accelerate the disease process. Therefore, cleaning and care of the eyelids is a recommended supplement to dry eye therapy. This can be done at home or in the practise of the eye doctor.