Tyrvaya (varenicline solution) nasal spray costs from £185 per month privately in the UK, plus a one-off consultant dry eye assessment. Rather than lubricating the eye from outside like artificial tears, Tyrvaya is sprayed into the nose twice a day and activates the trigeminal parasympathetic pathway, prompting your own glands to produce more natural tears. It is a prescription-only treatment for dry eye disease and is arranged privately following a consultant assessment of your tear film and ocular surface.
What is Tyrvaya?
Tyrvaya is a varenicline solution nasal spray developed specifically for dry eye disease. Varenicline is a cholinergic agonist: when delivered into the nose it stimulates the trigeminal parasympathetic pathway, the nerve circuit that drives basal tear production. The result is more of your own natural tears — a complete tear film with the right balance of water, oil and mucin — rather than a substitute applied to the surface.
This makes it a useful option for people whose dry eye is driven by reduced tear production (aqueous-deficient dry eye), and for those who struggle with frequent eye drops. It is often used alongside ocular-surface treatments such as blepharitis therapy when more than one factor is involved.
Tyrvaya vs other dry eye treatments
Dry eye is rarely one problem, so treatment is matched to the cause. Tyrvaya targets tear production; other treatments target the oily (meibomian) layer or the eye surface directly. Compare the main private options below.
Other dry eye options we offer include IPL treatment, TearCare thermal pulsation and, for severe surface disease, an amniotic membrane graft. Your consultant will recommend the right combination after assessing your tear film.
Not sure which dry eye treatment you need? A consultant assessment pinpoints whether your dry eye is from low tear production, blocked oil glands or surface inflammation — so treatment actually works.
Book a dry eye assessmentHow to use Tyrvaya
Tyrvaya is simple to use and needs no special technique with the eye itself.
- Prime the spray before first use, as directed by your prescriber.
- Tilt your head slightly and insert the tip just into one nostril.
- Spray once while breathing in gently through the nose.
- Repeat in the other nostril — one spray per nostril per dose.
- Use twice a day, roughly twelve hours apart.
A brief sneeze, cough or throat tickle just after spraying is the most common effect and usually settles as you get used to it.
What to expect
Tyrvaya works gradually as natural tear production improves. Here is the typical pattern.
Week 1
You start twice-daily dosing. A short sneeze or nasal tickle after each spray is normal and tends to ease.
Weeks 2–4
Many patients begin to notice less grittiness, burning and the urge to use artificial tears as often.
Around 4 weeks
Trial results show meaningful improvement in tear production by this point. We review your response.
Ongoing
If it is helping, treatment continues with periodic monitoring. If not, we adjust the plan to another option.
Tyrvaya cost & what's included
Tyrvaya is a prescription medicine, so the monthly cost is for the medication itself, separate from your consultation. Our dry eye pathway is transparent:
- Medication: Tyrvaya nasal spray from £185 per month, depending on supply and pharmacy.
- Consultation & assessment: a one-off consultant dry eye assessment with tear-film evaluation, after which the prescription is issued.
- Insurance: dry eye consultations may be covered by Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Vitality, Cigna and WPA — we handle authorisation. Medication is usually self-pay.
Comparing approaches? See the full range of treatment prices, or read about Miebo drops and IPL dry eye treatment.