Healthy eyes should be covered by a tear film. This film is made up of oil, water, and mucus and provides a layer of lubrication and protection to our eyes while clearing any debris with each blink.
Symptoms of dry eyes can include overall discomfort, the feeling that there is a foreign object in the eye, stinging and burning sensations, blurred vision, light sensitivity, redness, and excessive tearing.
Excessive tearing is often a contradictive symptom of dry eyes. This happens when your eye sends signals that it is not getting enough lubrication from your tear film. The body responds by sending a flow of tears, but these tears are made up of mostly water and do not provide a lasting layer of lubrication.
There can be several different causes of dry eyes, like environmental factors that dry out the tear film such as air conditioning, heaters, dry, dusty, and windy climates, and cigarette smoke. Aging is another common cause as is hormonal factors found in women approaching menopause.
Prolonged periods of eye strain such as starring at a computer or television screen or working on needlepoint can cause dry eyes because your blinking rate tends to decrease allowing the tear film to dry out.
Birth control pills, diuretics, sleeping pills, antidepressants, antihistamines, and other medications can cause side effects that lead to dry eyes. Certain diseases and structural abnormalities of the eye area can also be a cause.
Once a diagnosis has been made the most common type of treatment is using artificial tear drops. Silicone plugs might be used in more moderate cases to close up the tear duct. Sometimes surgery can be preformed to close ducts that drain tears to allow more to remain in the eye area.