Dry eye is a condition in which there are insufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are needed for maintaining the health of the surface of the eye and for maintaining clear vision. People with dry eyes usually do not produce enough tears or they may have poor quality of tears. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults, but also may commonly occur in younger people as a result of heavy computer use or medications.
People with dry eyes may experience symptoms of irritated, gritty, scratchy, or burning eyes, a feeling of something in their eyes, excess watering, and blurred vision. Advanced dry eyes may damage the front surface of the eye and impair vision.
Treatments for dry eyes aim to restore or maintain the normal amount of tears in the eye to minimize dryness and related discomfort and to maintain eye health.