Do over-the-counter eye drops treat dry eye syndrome or just relief symptoms ?, which eye drops do both ?

Provide relief: OTC eyedrops supplement what is missing from your natural tears (volume, composition). They are not curative or a treatment of the underlying pathology. There is no actual permanent treatment. Restasis, a prescription drops for dry eyes, eliminates inflammatory causes for low tear flow but it also is not a cure. Dry eyes are chronic with ups and downs depending upon many factors.

Most mild,: non-pathologic dry eye can be treated with Over-the-counter eye drops or lubricant gels or ointments. Most of these contain methycellulose and/or petrolatum and/or glycerin. Only the immune-modulators and tear stimulators like Restasis are prescription. Eyes are most vulnerable at night and therefore the gels & ointments are preferred for nighttime use; such Genteal gel or Systane nighttime