What is dry eye?

Dry eye disease is the most frequent reason that patients visit eye doctors. Dry eye is a common problem that may result in symptoms of eye discomfort, blurred vision and possible damage to the surface of the eye. People with dry eye symptoms use different methods to ease their discomfort.

a little about tears

Most patients do not know it, but your eye’s tears are made up of three separate layers: a mucus layer that coats the eye and holds the liquid part of the tear to the eye; a water layer which is what most people think of when they think of tears; and an oily—or lipid--layer which floats on top of the other two layers and keeps your tears from evaporating or spilling off your eye onto your cheek.

For some people, relief of their dry eye symptoms is incomplete because there is a lack of the oily layer of the tear film. This oily layer is produced by glands, called meibomian glands, which release oils from openings along the lining of the eyelids. If your eye’s glands become blocked, dry eye symptoms can occur.

Do you think you might be suffering from dry eye?
Take our dry eye SPEED QUESTIONAIRE.