Special receptors on the surface of the eye are then stimulated by this inflammation, which causes a ‘reflex tear production’. When there are not enough tears, or if the quality of tears is poor, the surface of the eye becomes dry, and this causes inflammation. The eyelids spread a thin film of tears over the front of the eye. In Dry Eyes, why do the eyes sometime water excessively? How can the eyes be dry if they are watering all the time? This a paradox which is explained as follows.īlinking spreads a tear film over the surface of the eye – the eyelids do the opposite to what a windscreen wiper does on a car. Eyes feel ‘gritty’ – often worse in the mornings.Foreign body sensation/feels like something is in the eyes.The symptoms can be extremely variable, causing anything from mild irritation to severe discomfort. What are the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome? It is more common in women than men, and is found most commonly in the over 60s age group. However, if the main problem is poor quality of tears (but plenty of them) as a result of inflammation or blockage of the oil secreting glands in the lid margin, then the condition is called ‘obstructive meibomian gland disease’, more commonly referred to as blepharitis. If the main problem is a lack of tear production, then the term 'keratoconjunctivitis sicca' or ‘aqueous deficiency’ is used. When seen on the microscope, using a fluorescent dye called fluorescein and a special cobalt blue light, the denuded surface areas can be seen as green specks on the surface of the eye.ĭry eyes can be divided into two broad categories. Normally, the eyes become very irritable. They appear red, and the whites of the eyes can appear to be pink and swollen. When the surface of the eyes dry out, the eyes become inflamed. Often, the reduced tear quality is a result of blockage or inflammation of the oil glands within the lid margin. Dry eyes occur when the eyes either don’t make enough tears, or the quality of the tears produced is reduced, which means the tears can evaporate rapidly from the surface of the eye, allowing the eye to dry.

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