Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears to stay wet, or when your tears don’t work correctly. This can make your eyes feel uncomfortable, and in some cases it can also cause vision problems.

Dry eye is common — it affects millions of Americans every year. The good news is that if you have dry eye, there are lots of things you can do to keep your eyes healthy and stay comfortable.

This can occur for many reasons, including:

• Meibomian gland dysfunction (blockage of oil glands)
• Age and gender (tear production decreases as you age)
• Medications (antihistamines or decongestants decrease tear production)
• Environmental factors (low humidity, allergens, smoke or chemicals)
• Not blinking enough