My year of dry eye is somewhat inflammatory (I collect autoimmune diseases, a sucky hobby). I've tried (1) preservative free artificial tears and gel (gel tend to clog oil glands), (2) heated eye mask, (3) Ocusoft eye scrubs to keep lids and oil glands clear, (4) humidifier in room, and (5) eye mask when sleeping. All helped but not enough so eye dr. put me on cyclosporine eye drops 2 bid. It takes up to 6 mo before lacrimal gland stops slacking and makes more tears, and oil glands improve, but I've seen some improvement in dry eye in a week. Effects are almost all local, some short-term burning and blurring, and unlike other anti-inflammatory eye drops they are not supposed to affect eye pressure, so less risk of glaucoma or retinal detachment.