Does the health insurance pay for it?

The costs for artificial tear fluid must be paid by the legally insured persons themselves, there is a prescription exclusion. This does not apply to children under 12 years of age who can be prescribed artificial tear fluid. Adults with certain diseases can also be prescribed artificial tear fluid. Even then, artificial tear fluid is only reimbursed if the preparation is approved as a drug.

These include autoimmune diseases,
The absence of or damage to the salivary gland,
The loss of a specific facial nerve (facial nerve palsy) and the incomplete closure of the eye (lagopthalmus).

What is the best way to bring artificial tear fluid into the eye?

The best way to introduce artificial tear fluid into the eye depends on whether you use drops, sprays or gels. In principle, before using artificial tear fluid, you should read the instructions for use on the package insert. Before using all three products, you should wash your hands thoroughly to prevent germs from getting into your eyes.

To drip drops into the eye, you should tilt your head back and look up. The lower eyelid is pulled down, the other hand holds the bottle with the eye drops over the lower edge angle of the eye, which points to the nose. However, the eye itself should not be touched.
Then the desired number of drops is carefully dripped into the eye. Then the lower lid is released and the eyes should remain closed for about half a minute without being pinched. Rolling your eyeballs slowly helps to distribute the drops.
Eye sprays, on the other hand, are applied to the closed eye.
For this purpose, the lid is removed from the spray bottle and the bottle is held at a distance of 10 – 20 cm in front of the corresponding eye. With closed eyes the spray is then triggered. Then you should blink several times in a row to get the spray under the eyelids.
To apply eye ointment, the lower lid is pulled down.
Then the desired amount of ointment is carefully spread into the eye between the lower eyelid and the eyeball. In doing so, the ointment is stroked from the nose to the outside. Then the eye should be closed briefly so that the ointment can spread well. If you can not do this alone, you should call in a helper.