Chronic dry eye syndrome: What helps dry, itchy, swollen eyes?

I have dry eye and found a company online that sells dry eye glasses. I ordered frames and had my prescription done at my optometrist. Air conditioning, circulating heat, wind, indoor lights, and outdoor sunlight bother my dry eye. The dry eye glasses have been a life saver.

I was having horrible dry eyes back in 2011. There were times my lid would literally stick to my eyeball, and I had to gently pull it off. My eyelids were scraping the cornea every time I blinked.
They finally diagnosed me with SLK, Superior Limbic Keratoconjunctivitis, a chronic, and recurrent eye disease. I went to a cornea specialist.
I tried prescription eye drops, plugs in my tear ducts, massage, warm compress, OTC eye drops like Refresh (no preservatives). He also gave me clear (no prescription) contacts to wear to stop the eyelids blink from scratching my eyeball. That helped a lot.

Try the warm compress followed by a massage. Then eyedrops.

I have very dry eyes, just had Licrifill injected into eye ducts and immediately felt relief. It was painless and is the newest treatment.

@cm4713, thanks for info! I have punctual plugs. Is that same thing! They are helping,

@SusanEllen66 , that sounds similar to my condition a few years ago. I’m better now but wonder if that’s what I have too.

I definitely think my dad had it. Sadly, it was not diagnosed. I took him to multiple ophthalmologists for it. He was too frail to go to Duke Eye Center, which is who I see. Sadly, he passed away recently. (Not related to eye condition.)

Something that has helped me is the Systane nighttime ointment (not gel). I've been using it every night for about 6 months at the suggestion from the eye doctor and it carries over into the next day. It isn't till around 2 PM the next day that I use some Refresh eye drops then back to the nighttime regime later.

Yes, I’ve used Systane (or previously another brand) ointment nightly for over ten years. It helps greatly, but is expensive and inconvenient. I have to plan around it if I need to drive or read the next morning. Now that Wallgreens brand is no longer available, Systane is the only brand I can find. Walmart brand is also never available. I buy Systane online in bulk, but it’s still expensive and my insurance doesn’t cover it.

Hi all I’m wondering if anyone is familiar or has had a punctoplasty? I have dry eyes probably due to normal aging. My left eye is the worst almost always feeling like there is something in it and it’s blurry or watery. This is especially the case when reading, working on a screens i.e. phone ipad computer and when driving. I’m constantly blinking to try to clear my vision. My ophthalmologist irrigated my tear duct and atbthat time told me that my tearare tiny. The irrigating did not help and now she is suggested a punctoplasty. From the little bit of research I have done I’m not sure that this procedure will help. I have used systane and refresh drops but they don’t really help. I would appreciate any information on punctoplasty procedure if anyone is familiar or has had it done. Thanks!

Next month I’m starting an IPL procedure. It is some type of low level pulse light. I’ve read that it has good results (checked on ChatGpt). 4 sessions will be required at two week intervals. My opthalmologist referred me to my optometrist - who’s the only provider of this therapy in my small town here in Colorado. I’m looking forward to some relief. It is rather expensive, and it is not a lifetime solution. May be needed again at some point down the road.

Hi I have had IPL and it’s good however I know people who have found it really helpful
All the best