AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effect and clinical value of houttuynia cordata eyedrops combining with artificial tear in the treatment of dry eye.METHODS:One hundred and thirty patients (244 eyes) with dry eye were randomized into control and experimental group. Artifical tear and normal saline were used in control group,whereas houttuynia cordata eyedrops and artificial tear were prescribed in the experimental group. The subjective symptom and the results of tear break-up time (BUT) and Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) were analyzed. The improvement of ocular surface were examined by conjunctival impression cytology(CIC).RESULTS:The subjective symptom of the patients were improved at different degree in the two groups. Although the BUT prolonged (P<0.05),there were no significant improvement in the result of SⅠt and the Nelson grade of CIC post treatment in control group(P>0.05). However,the results of BUT,SⅠt and grade of CIC of the experimental group were all imroved significantly than that of pretherapy,and the degree of improvement were better than that of control group (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Houttuynia cordata eyedrops combining with artificial tear is a simple and effective method for the treatment of dry eye and is beneficial to enhance the therapeutic compliance and effect.