Dry Eye

Normally, the eye constantly bathes itself in tear. By producing tears at a slow and steady rate, the eye stays moist and comfortable.

Sometimes people do not produce enough tears or the appropriate quality of tears to keep their eyes healthy and comfortable. This condition is known as dry eye.

The eye uses two different methods to produce tears. It can make tears at a slow, steady rate to maintain normal eye lubrication. It can also produce large quantities of tears in response to eye irritation or emotion. When a foreign body or dryness irritates the eye, or when a person cries, excessive tearing occurs.

What Are The Symptoms Of Dry Eye?

The usual symptoms include:

• Stinging or burning eyes

• Scratchiness

• Stringy mucus in or around the eyes

• Excessive eye irritation from smoke or wind

• Excess tearing

• Discomfort when wearing contact lenses

Excess tearing from "dry-eye" may sound illogical, but it can be understood as the eye's response to discomfort. If the tears responsible for maintaining lubrication do not keep the eye wet enough, the eye becomes irritated. Eye irritation prompts the gland that makes tears (called the lacrimal gland) to release a large volume of tears, overwhelming the tear drainage system. These excess tears then overflow from the eye.