What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Up to 12 million Americans suffer from an inflammatory disease called dry eye syndrome. People with dry eyes frequently experience burning, itching, stickiness, redness, and stinging of their eyes. Some people with dry eyes also have periods when their eyes get so watery that tears spill over their eyelids and run down their cheeks.

Though the symptoms of dry eyes may seem like little more than a nuisance to some, dry eye syndrome can lead to serious eye problems if left untreated. Inflammation of the front surface of the eye increases the risk of some infections, and can also lead to scarring. Once scarring occurs, permanent loss of sight can occur.

Why do dry eyes occur?

Your eyes normally make small amounts of tears all day long. Tears play several important roles in keeping your eyes healthy and your vision clear – they lubricate the eye’s surface, wash away debris, provide a smooth surface to help keep your vision clear, and also contain natural antibiotics that keep your eyes safe from germs that may cause infections.

Tears coat the eye in a smooth film made up of three separate layers, and each layer is made by a different part of the eye. For the tear film to do its job, all three layers have to be in their proper places in the correct amounts. If any layer is missing or abnormal, which can happen for a number of reasons, the tear film becomes disorganized and no longer soothes the eye like it should.

When the eye becomes inflamed, it starts making large quantities of tears in an effort to soothe itself. However, these bad tears don’t soothe the eye at all – they run down your face, further irritating the eye and continuing the cycle.

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