Dry Eyes

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

In a healthy eye, a film of tears, spread over the eye by a blink, makes the surface of the eye smooth and clear. This tear film consists of three layers: an oily layer, a watery layer and a layer of mucus. Without our tear film, good vision would not be possible.

Tears are produced by two different methods. One method produces tears at a slow, steady rate and is responsible for normal eye lubrication. The other method produces large quantities of tears in response to eye irritation or emotions.

Tears that lubricate are constantly produced by a healthy eye. Excessive tearing occurs when the eye is irritated by a foreign body, dryness or when a person cries.

Excess tearing from “dry eye” sounds illogical, but if the tears responsible for maintenance lubrication do not keep the eye wet enough, the eye becomes irritated. When the eye is irritated, the lacrimal gland produces a large volume of tears that overwhelm the tear drainage system. These excess tears then overflow
from your eye.

Introduction
Causes
Risk Factors
Summary
FAQ’s