Dry Eyes

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The eye needs to be continually lubricated, or bathed with tears. Normally, there is always a "film" of tears on the surface of your eyes. But if your eyes do not produce enough tears, the surface gets irritated. This condition is known as 'dry eyes'.

What are the signs and symptoms of 'dry eyes'?

Not Enough Lubricating Tears
When you cry, your eyes make reflex tears. Each time you blink, another kind of tears, called lubricating tears, spread over the surface of your eyes. These tears keep the eyes moist and comfortable. You aren't aware of these tears because they stay on the surface of the eyes. But without them, your eyes get dry. Then they burn or sting and feel scratchy. They may also water. This doesn't relieve the dryness, however, because the eyes water with reflex tears, not lubricating tears.

How are 'dry eyes' diagnosed?
To find the cause of your dry eyes, your eye doctor will:

What causes 'dry eyes'?
Many things can cause your eyes to become dry. These include:

Lubricating tears flow from glands in the upper eyelid over the surface of the eye. From the eye, the tears drain into canals that lead to the nose.

Be sure to tell your doctor about :

Repeat two or more times a day. Use a clean washcloth each time.

Your eye doctor looks at your eyes through a special microscope called a slit lamp. This allows him or her to examine the tear film.
Your eye doctor may also use eyedrops with dye to help show any dry spots.

Your eye doctor also measures the amount of tears your eyes produce.
First, your eyes may be numbed with anesthetic drops. Then your doctor folds filter paper over your lower lids.
You're asked to sit with your eyes closed for about 5 minutes. The paper absorbs the tear film. The amount of fluid in the paper tells your eye doctor the amount of tears your eyes produce.

Artificial tears or lubricating eye-drops replace your natural lubricating tears. You can buy most lubricating eye-drops without a prescription. And you can use them as often as needed. Lubricating eye-drops are not the same as eye- drops to relieve redness or itching. Check with a pharmacist to be sure you buy the right drops.
Note : Most lubricating eyedrops contain preservatives to make them last longer. If your eyes are sensitive to the drops, or if you need to use them often, you may want to buy lubricating eyedrops made without preservatives. Your eye doctor may also suggest using a lubricating eye ointment at night.

Closing the punctum with plugs can help keep the tear-film on your eye. The plug acts like a stopper in a sink. It allows only a small amount of tears to drain out of your eye. Your eye doctor may first try temporary plugs that dissolve in a few days.
If these help, he or she may then put in long-term plugs. Your eyes will be numbed with drops when the plugs are inserted, so you should feel no pain. You should not feel the plugs once they are in.

If artificial tears or plugs do not relieve your dry eyes, your doctor may do minor outpatient surgery to narrow or block the openings to the drainage canals. If your dry eyes are caused by eyelid problems, your eye doctor may recommend other kinds of surgery.