What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye syndrome is when the eyes lack moisture or there isn't enough lubrication in the eye. The condition can be a mild irritant or cause eye inflammation. Dry eye syndrome is also known as keratitis sicca, which means a decrease in amount of tear production.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of dry eye syndrome include persistent dryness in the eyes, as well as scratching and burning. Another symptom is the feeling that a foreign object is in the eye.

Causes

• Dry eye syndrome becomes more common with age because the older a person gets the fewer tears they make. It has also been associated with heat and chemical burns, lupus, vitamin A deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis.

Risk

• Nearly everyone is at risk of developing dry eye syndrome, but the condition is seen more often in women and those over the age of 40.

Treatment

• Treatment of dry eye syndrome includes using ointments to lubricate the eyes, drops to create artificial tears and plugs in eye drainage ducts to keep moisture on the surface of the eye.

Prevention

• Dry eye cannot be prevented, but using drops and ointments that wet and lubricate the eyes can help prevent complications.