What is dry eye?

The tears your eyes normally produce are necessary for overall eye health and clear vision. Dry eye occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears or produce tears which do not have the proper chemical composition.

What causes dry eye?

Dry eye symptoms can result from the normal aging process, exposure to environmental conditions, problems with normal blinking, or from medications such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives, or antidepressants. Dry eye can also be symptomatic of general health problems or can result from chemical or thermal burns to the eye.

What are signs/symptoms of dry eye?

The most common signs/symptoms include stinging, itchy, scratchy, uncomfortable eyes, and sometimes having a burning feeling or a feeling of something foreign within the eye. You may experience increased dry eye symptoms on awakening. Some people experience an overly wet eye. This is the natural reflex to comfort a dry eye.

Will dry eye harm my eyes?

If dry eye is untreated, it can harm your eyes. Excessive dryness can damage normally moist tissues and possibly scar the cornea of your eye impairing your vision. Dry eye can make contact lens wear more difficult due to increased irritation and can increase the chance of eye infection. To keep dry eye symptoms in check, you and Dr. Mark A. Gottlieb need to work together.

Information furnished by American Optometric Association.