In-office treatments give the most effective, longest-lasting relief. But dry eye disease is a chronic condition, so what you do at home in between matters just as much for keeping that relief going.
In-office treatments target the root causes of dry eye directly, unblocking glands, calming inflammation and clearing the lid margin, giving the most effective and longest-lasting relief. Because dry eye disease is a chronic condition, those gains are best maintained with consistent at-home care between visits.
For most patients, lubricating eye drops are the foundation of day-to-day dry eye management. We can recommend a formulation suited to your specific tear film findings from your Dry Eye Assessment, rather than a generic pharmacy option picked at random.
Preservative-free drops are generally preferred, particularly if you're using drops more than four times a day, since the preservatives in some multi-dose bottles can build up and irritate an already compromised ocular surface over time.
Consistency matters more than any single ingredient. Using your drops as often as advised, even on days your eyes feel comfortable, helps keep the tear film stable rather than playing catch-up once symptoms flare.
When lubricants alone aren't enough and inflammation is driving your symptoms, our optometrist may prescribe or refer you for medicated drops that treat that inflammation directly.
Work quickly to broadly suppress inflammation, useful for short, closely monitored flare-ups. Long-term use carries a risk of raised eye pressure, cataract formation and infection, so they aren't used as an ongoing daily treatment.
Work differently, selectively calming the immune activity that drives chronic dry eye inflammation rather than broadly suppressing it, without the pressure or cataract risk. Full effect takes several weeks, and mild stinging is common at first.
Cequa (ciclosporin 0.09%) and Ikervis (ciclosporin 0.1%) are the two ciclosporin eye drops currently TGA approved in Australia for dry eye disease. Both are PBS-listed as a restricted benefit for patients with documented moderate-to-severe or severe dry eye disease who meet specific eligibility criteria, and both require a prescription following an assessment by an eligible optometrist or ophthalmologist.
A Comprehensive Eye Examination or Dry Eye Assessment is required before starting any medicated eye drop, so we can confirm it's the right choice for your findings and, if needed, arrange the appropriate prescription or referral.
We stock Optimel Manuka Dry Eye Drops and Optimel Manuka Forte Eye Gel in clinic, both made from medical-grade Manuka honey. The active component, methylglyoxal, has natural antibacterial properties that help reduce the bacterial load along the lid margin that can drive inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction.
The Forte Eye Gel is a far more concentrated formulation, applied to the lid margin rather than the eye surface, where it softens crusting, lowers the local pH and helps calm the bacterial environment around the gland openings. The milder eye drops are better suited to everyday use on the eye surface itself for general dry eye comfort. We'll advise which, or whether both, fit your findings.
Simple daily habits that keep the lid margin clean and the meibomian glands working between your in-office visits.
A gentle, alcohol-free spray that helps reduce bacteria and Demodex mites along the lash line. Sprayed onto closed eyes and wiped away, it's a simple daily step for patients with blepharitis or lid margin inflammation.
Pre-moistened, individually packaged wipes for daily lash line hygiene, gently lifting away oil, makeup and debris without irritating sensitive eyelid skin. A convenient option for on-the-go lid care.
A reusable, microwaveable compress that delivers consistent moist heat at home, helping keep meibomian gland oils soft between in-office warming treatments.
Lacritec is an oral nutritional supplement combining omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA from fish oil) with alpha-linolenic acid from flaxseed oil and gamma-linolenic acid from borage oil, formulated to support tear film quality and reduce ocular surface inflammation from within.
In a study of 209 patients, most reported meaningful improvement in dry eye symptoms and reduced reliance on eye drops after 8 weeks of Lacritec supplementation. The broader research on omega-3 supplementation for dry eye is still evolving: some trials show clear improvement in ocular surface staining and tear film stability, while the evidence for symptom relief alone is more mixed. We view supplements like Lacritec as a helpful addition alongside other treatments, not a replacement for them.
Optimel Manuka products, HypoChlor spray, Systane Lid Wipes, The Eye Doctor Hot Eye Compress and Lacritec are available for purchase directly from our clinic. Prescription drops such as Cequa and Ikervis require a Comprehensive Eye Examination or Dry Eye Assessment first, so we can confirm they're the right choice for your condition.
Every treatment plan, in-office or at-home, starts with understanding your eyes properly. A thorough Dry Eye Assessment with our dry eye expert will map out which of these treatments fit your findings, rather than a generic routine offered to everyone.