Frequently Asked Questions

Dry and Tearing Eyes

Dry and tearing eyes.
As we age, the quality and the amount of protective tear film on the surface of the eye diminish, leaving the eyes exposed to the drying effects of air, wind, dust and sun. The patient complains of eyes burning, stinging or having a gritty eye sensation, which may come and go. Occasionally long strings of mucus can be stretched from the eye. Increased sensitivity to light may be present. Symptoms are often worse in the afternoon and evenings. Dry weather, dry indoors air during the winter heating season, wind, fumes, cigarette smoke and dust in the air aggravate symptoms. Because we blink less often when we read, and particularly when we concentrate and stare at the computer screen, these activities may make symptoms worse.

Although there is no permanent cure for lack of tears, treatment helps most people. Correcting the environment (e.g. reducing room temperature, moist chamber goggles) helps. Humidifiers may be helpful but are often disappointing because the average humidifier is not strong enough to adequately increase the humidity of an average size room. Protective glasses may help against wind. Non-prescription artificial tears soothe the eyes and give temporary relief, but have to be used at frequent intervals. Ointments last longer, but blur the vision. Insertion of plugs in the tear-draining canal is a painless in-office procedure that prevents tears from draining away.

Some people with similar symptoms have no problems making tears. Indeed, they complain that their eyes are constantly watering. The problem is that the tears do not have the right chemical composition and, because of it, cannot do the job right.

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