Symptoms & Diagnosis
The usual symptoms of dry eye include:
- stinging
- burning
- scratchiness
- stringy mucus
- excessive irritation from smoke and wind
- discomfort when wearing contact lenses
- watering eyes
Watering eyes from dry eye may sound illogical, but tears are also the eye's response to discomfort. If the tears responsible for maintaining lubrication do not keep the eye wet enough, the eye becomes irritated. Eye irritation prompts the gland that makes tears to release a large volume of tears, overwhelming the tear drainage system. These excess tears then overflow from your eye.
An Eye M.D. is usually able to diagnose dry eye by examining the eyes. Sometimes tests that measure tear production are necessary. The Schirmer tear test involves placing filter-paper strips under the lower eyelids to measure the rate of tear production under various conditions. Another test uses a diagnostic drop to look for certain patterns of dryness on the surface of the eye.
Tear production normally decreases as we age. Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often affected. This is especially true after menopause.
Treatments & More
For additional information about dry eye, including how it is treated, visit the dry eye section of EyeCare America, an EyeSmart Campaign partner.
Last reviewed and updated in February 2009,
by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
