Should I use boric acid for dry eye?
MAY 05, 2022
Question:
I have been told that a boric acid wash can help to minimize dry eye by cleaning the eye. Should I use this if other methods are not working?
Answer:
Boric acid is present in small amounts in some preservative eye drops but I would not recommend using it by itself. Other medicines like topical ointments, topical preservative-free tears, autologous serum tears or punctal plugs can be useful treatments for dry eye. During a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist will look for other disease that may be worsening your symptoms. Other conditions can accompany dry eyes and require different treatment options to help your symptoms. These can include blepharitis, rosacea, systemic conditions like diabetes or autoimmune conditions, and allergy.