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Dry eyes

Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Lacrimal gland
Lacrimal gland

Alternative Names    Return to top

Tearing - decreased; Eyes - dry

Definition    Return to top

Dry eyes are caused by a lack of tears. Tears are necessary for the normal lubrication of your eyes and to wash away particles and foreign bodies.

Considerations    Return to top

If you have dry eyes, you will feel a burning, scratching, or stinging sensation. You may also have strained or tired eyes after reading, even for short periods of time. If you wear contacts, they will likely feel uncomfortable. Having dry eyes for a while can lead to tiny abrasions on the surface of your eyes.

Causes    Return to top

Common causes of dry eyes include:

Home Care    Return to top

The following steps may help:

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

Call your doctor if:

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, including a careful eye examination.

To help better understand your dry eyes, your doctor may ask the following:

Your doctor may perform tearing tests that can help diagnose dry eyes. Artificial tears may be prescribed.

References    Return to top

Foulks GN. The evolving treatment of dry eye. Ophthalmol Clin North Am. 2003;16(1):29-35.

Mahoney EJ, Spiegel JH. Sjögren's disease. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2003;36(4):733-745.

Update Date: 11/13/2007

Updated by: Manju Subramanian, M.D., Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery, Boston University Eye Associates, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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