Eye Medical reference

DRY EYE

Dry eye is the loss or reduction of the eye's normal ability to produce tears. It is one of the most frequent causes of visits to an eye care professional. A variety of factors may cause or contribute to this problem.

Aging
Medications, including antihistamines, birth control pills, diuretics, cardiovascular medications, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatories
Eye strain from reading or computer work
A dry environment

Typical symptoms of dry eye include

Stinging or burning
A gritty feeling
Discharge that forms a crust at night
Excess tearing
Difficulty wearing contact lenses

There are three approaches to restoring the eyes' moisture.

Minimize drying

Avoid dry situations, such as an overheated room, wind, and smoke
Outdoors, wear wraparound glasses to reduce the drying effect of wind (please note that in some states it is illegal to drive in these glasses because they are thought to block peripheral vision)

Add lubrication

Use eye drops to add moisture directly to your eyes, or if wearing contact lenses, use rewetting drops
Use a humidifier or place a pan of water on the radiator to add moisture to the air

Conserve your own tears

Your eye doctor may choose to temporarily or permanently close the canals that drain tears from your eye to your nose