Some people do not produce enough tears or the appropriate quality of tears to keep the eye healthy and comfortable. This is known as dry eye.
What are the symptoms of dry eye? Symptoms of dry eye include stinging or burning eyes, scratchiness, stinging mucus around the eye and excess tearing.
What causes dry eye? Tear production normally decreases as we age and women are more often affected than men. This is especially true after menopause. Also, a wide variety of common medications can cause dry eye by reducing tear secretion. Some of these medications include diuretics, beta-blockers, antihistamines, sleeping pills, medications for “nerves” and pain relievers.
How is dry eye diagnosed? Dry eye is usually diagnosed by an exam, but sometimes tests that measure tear production may be necessary.
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