Which artificial tears should I buy?

Preservative-free is the usual answer for frequent use — but the right formula depends on whether your problem is volume or evaporation. Ask at your exam.

How long should a warm compress stay on?

Long enough to actually soften oil — minutes of steady warmth, which is why heated masks outperform washcloths.

Do blue light glasses help dry eye?

Dryness at screens is mostly about reduced, incomplete blinking. Breaks and blink habits do more than tints.

What are the best eye drops for dry eyes?

No single drop suits everyone; the right one depends on your type of dry eye. For mild dryness, over-the-counter artificial tears are the usual start, and preservative-free versions are recommended because they contain fewer additives that can further irritate the eyes. Gels and ointments can also help, especially overnight, and whether a formula should add oil depends on whether your tears run short or evaporate too fast. When tears alone do not hold, prescription drops treat the cause.

How do you treat dry eyes at home?

Use preservative-free artificial tears on a schedule, not only when it hurts; warm the lids with a mask that holds its heat, then blink fully; clean the lid margins; take screen breaks and blink on purpose; keep fans and vents off your face; run a humidifier in dry rooms; and wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors. Home care keeps mild dry eye comfortable and holds the results of in-office treatment, but it cannot unblock failing glands.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Bijan Cohenmehr, OD Last reviewed October 24, 2026

Dry Eye Home Remedies

The daily routine that makes everything else work.

In-office treatments and prescriptions work better when the daily routine supports the tear film. The basics are simple, but the details decide whether they help: which drops, how warm, how long, how consistently.

Book appointmentOr call 310-828-2010 Accepted insurance

A heated eye mask and preservative-free tears

Drops: Preservative-free artificial tears
Heat: A mask that holds warmth
Lids: Gentle cleansing when crusted
Night: Gel, ointment, or moisture protection

A strong home routine

Preservative-free artificial tears during the day — preservatives can irritate chronically dry eyes
Warm compresses for MGD: a reusable heated mask beats a washcloth that cools in a minute
Gentle lid cleaning when crusting is present
Screen breaks that restore full, complete blinks
Nighttime gel, ointment, or moisture protection if your eyes dry out during sleep

Why technique matters

Heat has to reach the oil long enough to soften it, and drops have to be the right kind for your dryness. Our optometrists in Los Angeles set your routine at the exam — then in-office care builds on it.

The full program →

Its limits

What home care can and can’t do.

Consistency keeps mild dryness comfortable and holds the gains after IPL, expression, or plugs. It can’t unblock failing glands, close leaky vessels, or heal a damaged surface. That is what the in-office layers are for.

Contact lens habits, medications, autoimmune conditions, allergies and indoor air all influence symptoms too; your plan accounts for them.

Escalate when

Signs home care isn’t enough.

Relief lasts minutes, not hours
Mornings start crusty, burning or blurry
You’re using drops more than four times a day

Book a dry eye evaluation

Common questions

Home care, answered.

Anything else, call the office at 310-828-2010.

Preservative-free is the usual answer for frequent use — but the right formula depends on whether your problem is volume or evaporation. Ask at your exam.
Long enough to actually soften oil — minutes of steady warmth, which is why heated masks outperform washcloths.
Dryness at screens is mostly about reduced, incomplete blinking. Breaks and blink habits do more than tints.
No single drop suits everyone; the right one depends on your type of dry eye. For mild dryness, over-the-counter artificial tears are the usual start, and preservative-free versions are recommended because they contain fewer additives that can further irritate the eyes. Gels and ointments can also help, especially overnight, and whether a formula should add oil depends on whether your tears run short or evaporate too fast. When tears alone do not hold, prescription drops treat the cause.
Use preservative-free artificial tears on a schedule, not only when it hurts; warm the lids with a mask that holds its heat, then blink fully; clean the lid margins; take screen breaks and blink on purpose; keep fans and vents off your face; run a humidifier in dry rooms; and wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors. Home care keeps mild dry eye comfortable and holds the results of in-office treatment, but it cannot unblock failing glands.

Also consider

Next step

Get a routine built for your eyes.

Book an evaluation; leave with drops, heat and habits matched to your dryness type.

Book Today Or call 310-828-2010