Dry eye often results from the eye’s inability to produce enough tears. Another cause of the condition may result when the tears themselves are of poor quality. For most people, artificial tears will help improve symptoms. Other people may require prescription medication to encourage the eye to produce more tears. A person with symptoms of dry eye, which incude discomfort, vision problems and discharge, that do not improve should contact an eye doctor for an evaluation and treatment options.
Discomfort
The surface of the eye requires constant lubrication, and chronic dry eye syndrome causes the surface to have patches of dryness. This leads to discomfort and irritation. Many people with chronic dry eye may experience a burning sensation on the surface of the eye. The eye may also feel painful and gritty, according to the National Eye Institute. Artificial tears may help relieve these symptoms, though if a person does not have improvement, she should contact an eye doctor to determine if she requires other treatment for the condition.
Vision
A dry eye may also have difficulty maintaining constant, clear vision, states the University of Illinois at Chicago. The tear film lubricates the cornea, the front window of the eye. When an eye has an inadequate amount of tears, or poor tear film quality, the cornea will dry out, causing vision to blur. In most people, artificial tears may help improve vision. If vision blurs during reading or extensive computer use, a person may not blink often enough to keep the cornea lubricated. Instilling an artificial tear prior to activities a person knows will cause the vision to blur may help prevent blurriness, or at least allow the person to perform the activity longer, without vision changes.
Discharge
Many people with chronic dry eye syndrome often experience excessive eye watering. This results from the eye’s response to inadequate moisture in the eye. The excessive watering does not help the eye, however. Instead, the overproduction of tears washes away the lubricating tear film and increases the problem of dry eye. In addition, some people with dry eye have a thick, stringy discharge, states MayoClinic.com. This occurs when a person has chronic dry eye from poor tear film. Whether from artificial tears, medication or surgical procedures, once the eye achieves a good balance of tear production and good tear quality, the excessive watering and stringy discharge should improve.
