Eye drops are a common treatment. Types include artificial tears, and sodium hyaluronate eye drops. Recently, types that increase mucin and improve tear stability have also become available. In mild cases of dry eye, treatment with eye drops alone can relieve symptoms.

In moderate to severe dry eye caused by diseases such as Sjogren's Syndrome, treatment with eye drops alone may not improve symptoms, so a treatment to keep tears in the eye by plugging the puncta (tear ducts) where tears drain out of the eye is used. There are many plugs with different shapes, sizes and materials. Punctual plugs for dry eye are covered by health insurance in Japan.

Autologous serum eye drops in which the patient's blood is collected and their serum diluted and applied are effective in severe cases of dry eye. This is thought to be because the serum contains compounds that heal damage on the surface of the eye.