Eye Health

"Dry" eyes

Dry, tired eyes and weepy, watery eyes, along with the intermittent blurry vision they bring, are among the most commonly reported symptoms.  It's not surprising, really, because our eyes spend all our waking hours exposed to the environment.  Not enough, too much - getting the tears balance right is a constant challenge to our eyes.    

We all know about the tears we produce why we cry, but there is also a thin layer of tears coating the front of the eye all the time, and its this, the tear film, that that lies at the heart of many dry and watery eye problems.  The fluid making up the tear film has many components produced by a number of different glands and tissues around the eye.  Any upset to the balance in the production of tears - it is affected by hormone levels, some medications, eye diseases including allergy and general health conditions - can lead to the tear film not being smooth and stable on the front of the eye.  Add to that the changing external conditions - hot, cold, dry or dusty environments, and its surprising the whole system usually copes so well.   When the tear film quality is reduced, our eyes may feel dry and gritty. Sometimes if they become irritated enough, the eye responds by flooding the eyes with tears - and so 'watery' eyes can be a symptom of an underlying 'dry' eye problem!

Persistent watery eyes often have to do with the drainage of tears from the eye. Ideally, the eyelids sit in close to the eyes, and remove a little bit of tear fluid each blink.  But if the eyelids are a bit floppy, or if the drainage pathway is blocked, then tears will find another way to leave the eye, usually 'leaking' out the corner.  

We have quite a few options in treating dry and watery eyes - from simple advice to eyedrops to referral for specialist treatment.  There are lots of possible causes for a dry or watery eye, including some that are more serious, so having a thorough eye examination is the best place to start. 

 

Eye Health Facts