Patients with dry eye may also have difficulty wearing contact lenses. Watering of the eye may also be a symptom, as excess tears are produced in response to the irritation. These excess tears lack the oil necessary to keep them from evaporating and, therefore, do not function to lubricate the eye. Dry eye is often diagnosed by simply examining the eyes. Sometimes tests which measure tear production may be necessary, such as the Schirmer Test, which measures the rate of tear production under various circumstances.
Artificial tears are the most common form of treatment for dry eye.
Slow release medicine inserted just inside the lower lid which gradually releases moisture during the day is also helpful. Difficulty opening the eyes in the morning may be treated with an ointment at bedtime. Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air and avoiding smoke, wind and other irritating conditions may provide relief. Soft contact lenses may also be used to keep moisture on the surface of the eye, thus providing the needed moisture and lubrication. In some cases, the punctum may be permanently sealed to keep the tears from draining out of the eye too quickly.