Gritty, tired, or watery eyes—especially after hours on screens or in dry air—are often signs of dry eye. The right eye drops can help, but choosing them can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to find relief that truly lasts.
Finding the best solution starts with understanding the root cause of your discomfort, not just masking the symptoms. For most people with mild dry eye, preservative-free artificial tears are often the best first choice because they’re gentle enough for frequent use.
If symptoms persist—or if inflammation, blocked oil glands, or other underlying issues are at play—your optometrist may recommend additional treatments. These can include a prescription eye drop that targets inflammation or an in-office procedure such as intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to improve the health of your eyelid oil glands.
A professional dry-eye assessment helps determine which combination of treatments will bring you the most lasting relief.
Spot the Early Signs of Dry Eye
Dry eye symptoms can show up in several different ways, and you might not experience all of them at once. Even one or two recurring symptoms can affect your daily activities, from reading to driving. It’s helpful to pay attention if your eyes regularly feel any of the following sensations.
Common Dry Eye Symptoms
Many people notice their discomfort gets worse as the day goes on, especially after long periods of screen use or in dry, windy environments. Your eyes might also feel more irritated when you wear contact lenses. Common signs of dry eye include:
- A scratchy or sandy feeling, as if something is in your eye
- Redness, stinging, or burning
- Blurry vision that comes and goes
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Watery eyes—which is your body’s response to the irritation
These symptoms are signs of dry eye disease, a common condition caused by a lack of proper tears. Addressing it properly can significantly improve your comfort.
OTC or Prescription? Choosing the Right Eye Drops
The eye drops available at your local pharmacy can be a good starting point for managing mild dryness. However, they don’t all work the same way, and some are better suited for certain types of dry eye than others. For more persistent issues, a prescription option from an optometrist may provide a more effective solution.
Types of Store-Bought Eye Drops
Most over-the-counter (OTC) drops are known as artificial tears, and they help add moisture to your eye’s surface. Some have a thin, watery consistency for quick relief, while others are thicker gels designed to last longer. We often suggest preservative-free formulas because they can be gentler on your eyes, especially if you need to use them frequently.
When a Prescription Drop Might Be the Best Choice
If OTC drops don’t give you the relief you need, we can look at other options together. Prescription drops work differently, as they can target underlying issues like inflammation—a common cause of chronic dry eye. A thorough eye exam helps us determine if this is the right approach for your specific situation.
Our Recommended Products for Dry Eye Relief
We have carefully selected a range of products that can help manage the different causes and symptoms of dry eye. You can find these items available in our practice and through our online store for your convenience. A proper assessment helps us point you toward the product that best fits your needs.
For Mild to Moderate Dryness
For daytime relief, preservative-free artificial tears are often a good first choice. They lubricate the eye’s surface for quick comfort without the potential irritation that preservatives can cause—ideal for screen users or anyone with occasional dryness. You can explore a variety of trusted dry eye care products in our online shop.
For Nighttime Relief & Protection
A thicker eye gel or ointment used just before bed can provide moisture that lasts through the night. It forms a protective layer over your cornea, which can prevent your eyes from drying out while you sleep. This is especially helpful if you wake up with gritty, uncomfortable eyes.
Supplements to Support Your Tear Film
Your tear quality is just as important as tear quantity for healthy, comfortable eyes. An Omega-3 supplement can help support the oil glands in your eyelids, which are key to creating a stable tear film that doesn’t evaporate too quickly. This approach addresses dryness from the inside out.
Why a Professional Dry Eye Assessment Matters
Using eye drops can certainly help you feel better, but they often just manage the symptoms without addressing the source of the problem. As your Orillia optometrists, we can look deeper to find out why your eyes are dry in the first place. This investigation is the first step toward a more effective and long-term solution.
Find the Root Cause of Your Dryness
A comprehensive dry eye assessment allows us to understand exactly what’s causing your discomfort. During this evaluation, we check your tear production, analyze your tear quality, and examine the health of your eyelids and oil glands. This detailed information helps us move beyond temporary fixes and toward meaningful relief.
Depending on what we find—such as inflammation or blocked oil glands—we may recommend specialized in-office therapies, like intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, to restore healthy gland function and reduce irritation.
Create Your Personalized Dry Eye Care Plan
Once we identify the cause, we can create a treatment plan that is tailored just for you. Your personalized vision care plan might include the right combination of eye drops, nutritional support, or in-office treatments such as IPL therapy to improve tear quality and help your eyes stay comfortable.
Your Next Steps for Comfortable, Clearer Vision
You don’t have to put up with the daily annoyance that comes with dry, irritated eyes. The right support and a personalized plan can make a significant difference in your daily comfort and the clarity of your vision. Our team is here to help you find the relief you’re looking for.
Explore Our Dry Eye Solutions
You can browse some of our recommended dry eye products right on our website. We have chosen these items for their effectiveness in managing different types of dry eye symptoms. Feel free to explore the options we trust to help our community.
Schedule Your Dry-Eye Assessment Today
Lasting relief from dry, irritated eyes starts with understanding what’s causing your discomfort. At Orillia Optometry, our dedicated team takes the time to listen to your symptoms, perform a thorough dry-eye evaluation, and explain your treatment options step by step.
Every person’s eyes are different. That’s why we create personalized care plans—from recommending the right eye drops to offering in-office therapies—to help you achieve real, long-term comfort and clearer vision.
Book your dry-eye assessment today and take the first step toward eyes that feel better, see clearly, and stay comfortable every day.
By combining trusted approaches like eye drops with advanced solutions such as IPL therapy, we can address the underlying causes of dry eye—not just the symptoms.
