What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when the tears are not of the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly. This will make your eyes feel uncomfortable and can cause vision problems. Dry eye can make many activities, such as using a computer or reading for an extended period, much more difficult. It can also decrease tolerance for dry environments, such as inside an airplane.

Other names for dry eye include dry eye syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), dysfunctional tear syndrome, lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis, evaporative tear deficiency, aqueous tear deficiency, and LASIK-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy (LNE).

Dry eye is common, affecting millions of Americans each year. There are many things you can do to help alleviate the issue and keep your eyes healthy!

What are the types of dry eye?

Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye is a disorder in which the lacrimal glands fail to produce enough of the watery component of tears to maintain a healthy eye surface.

Evaporative dry eye may result from inflammation of the meibomian glands, also located in the eyelids. These glands make the lipid or oily part of tears that slows evaporation and keeps the tears stable. With this form of dry eye, you may have excessive tears —  but they are not the correct consistency.

Symptoms:

Inflammation of the surface of the eye may occur along with dry eye. If left untreated, this condition can lead to pain, ulcers, or scars on the cornea, and some loss of vision. However, permanent loss of vision from dry eye is uncommon.

Risk Factors:

Treatment

Treatments for dry eye vary, depending on the underlying reasons and type of dry eye  you have. It is vital to talk with your doctor about your options and communicate with them anything you have tried or want to try.

Certain lifestyle changes can help prevent dry eye:

If you already have dry eye, the following treatments are available: