Dry Eye is Frustrating: A Great Eye Care Routine Will Consist of A Lot of Trial and Error
Dry Eye is Frustrating: A Great Eye Care Routine Will Consist of A Lot of Trial and Error
As an optometrist, I want to start by saying this clearly: if you feel like you’ve tried everything for dry eye and nothing works, you’re not failing—your eyes just need a more personalized strategy. Dry eye disease is complex, multifactorial, and rarely solved with a single eyedrop or warm compress.
Why Dry Eye Treatment Is Rarely “One-Size-Fits-All”
Dry eye usually stem from meibomian gland dysfunction, inflammation, autoimmune conditions, medications, hormonal changes, or eyelid disease.
👉 Learn more about dry eye disease
That’s why an effective routine usually involves trial, error, and refinement over time—not just and one and done eye drop from the drugstore.
Step 1: Finding the Right Eye Care Provider
Not All Eye Care Professionals are the Same
The first and most important step is working with an eye care provider who specializes in dry eye and evaluates why your eyes are dry—not just your symptoms. Find a DRY EYE OPTOMETRIST SPECIALIST. Yep, there's such a thing. This doctor type will also have specialized equipment such as Lipiflow, Blephex, NuLids, IPL that your regular optometrist may not.
A side note, a doctor that is open to making mistakes are the good ones. Learning is never done, and doctors are no exception to this. Find an optometrist that is not afraid to say: "I don't know, but let's find out together." That's a keeper.
A thorough dry eye evaluation may include:
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Tear quality and quantity testing including Tear Break Up Time
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Eyelid margin and meibomian gland assessment
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Inflammation screening with specialized equipment
👉 Find a Dry Eye Specialist Optometrist at Dry Eye Rescue here
Step 2: Finding the Right Cleansing Products
A Cleansing Eye Care Routine Is Foundational
For many patients, dry eye won’t improve until the eyelids and lashes are consistently clean. Inflammation at the lid margin can sabotage even the best prescription drops. I find that cleansing works in synergy with prescription eye drops. They both work better together than as solo therapies.
Common cleansing options may include:
👉 See my other blog posts about DRY EYES, and there are a lot!
Step 3: Finding the Right Prescription Support
Drops and Oral Medications Often Work Together
Prescription therapies target inflammation, infection, or nerve signaling—things cleansers alone can’t fix.
Prescription Eye Drops: Xiidra, Xdemvy, Lotemax, Azasite
👉These are prescription only eye drops that have been very successful with thousands of my dry eye patients. Sure, each drop has also not worked for everyone, but they will likely work for you. Finding the right one and using it at the right time will make all the difference in the world. A good dry eye specialist will have the clinical know-how and clinical experience to know the WHICH ONE and WHEN. I've included images of the eye drops so you can see what they look like. It doesn't mean your doctor will prescribe them for your case.
In some cases, oral medications or supplements are also recommended to support tear quality and gland health. Doxycycline and Azithromycin are commonly prescribed for meibomian gland inflammation.
Step 4: Creating a Timeline That Evolves Weekly
Dry Eye Is a Process, Not a Deadline
Here’s where many patients get discouraged. Dry eye routines must be adjusted frequently, especially in the first 8–12 weeks.
A successful plan often looks like this:
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Start with baseline cleansing and drops. This is usually a somewhat generic starting point. Gotta start somewhere!
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Track symptoms daily, then weekly, then monthly. I have patients who track hourly because their eyes hurt more at the end of day. Some patient's eyes hurt more when they wake up. Point is - track your symptoms as often as you can. It will reveal insights to help your eye care routine pivot over time.
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Adjust frequency, products, lifestyle, and/or medications. Adjusting isn't because you've messed up. It's part of the process. I find that the more adjusting I do to eye care routines, the better the outcome. Okay, so making "mistakes" on purpose helps the doctor and the patient.
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Reassess and pivot weekly or as needed. You'll get so good at this, you'll go to your follow up appointment with recommendations on how to make your eye care routine more tailored for you. When my patient become experts on their own dry eyes, I know I've done a good job.
Small changes can lead to big improvements—but only if you give them time and confidence. Sometimes the initial eye care routine fails, only to success months later. The irony, I know. But that's dry eye for you.
Key Takeaways
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Dry eye treatment requires personalization
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Finding the right provider is foundational!
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Cleansing, prescriptions, and medications work best together - you should have all 3 of these components for a comprehensive plan
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Your routine should evolve week by week, not stay rigid. PIVOT. PIVOT. PIVOT.
DO NOT GIVE UP!
If you’re feeling burned out or hopeless, know this: there is no failure in dry eye care—only refinement. With the right guidance and a willingness to PIVOT, improvement is absolutely possible. And improvement happens!
If you’re unsure where to start, talk to a dry eye–focused eye care provider and commit to an eye care routine knowing that it will change over time.
About Dr. Tanya Gill, OD
Dr. Tanya Gill, Founder of We Love Eyes, is a dedicated optometrist with years of experience in diagnosing and treating a variety of eye problems - especially dry eyes. She is passionate about educating patients on proper eye care and innovative treatment solutions. For more information about managing your eye problems and exploring tailored solutions, please visit We Love Eyes.
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