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. 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, other diseases or can result from chemical or thermal burns to the eye. You may experience increased dry eye symptoms on awakening.
Some people experience an overly wet eye.
This is a natural reflex to comfort a dry eye. During the examination, your doctor of optometry will ask you questions about your general health, your use of medications and your home and work environments to determine any factors which may be causing dry eye symptoms. This information will help your doctor decide whether to perform dry eye tests. These tests allow your doctor to evaluate the quality, the amount and the distribution of tears to detect signs of dry eyes. Dry eye cannot be cured, but your eyes' sensitivity can be lessened and measures taken so your eyes remain healthy.