Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is caused by a constant lack of eye lubrication. This syndrome can lead to minor but constant irritation or a serious inflammation of the front eye tissues.  If you’re experiencing the following symptoms: frequent eye dryness, burning and scratching, you may have dry eye syndrome.  

A doctor may diagnose you with dry eye syndrome if you have those symptoms or solidify the theory by performing at Schirmer test, which consists of placing a thin strip of filter paper on the edge of the eye.  Watery eyes can also ironically be a symptom of dry eye syndrome since the consistent dryness triggers the eye’s tear production.
The cause for this could be as simple as aging, wearing contact lenses or the fact that you live in a dry, dusty climate. Dry eye syndrome can appear during menopause or as a side effect to certain medications. Staring at a computer and not blinking frequently can also lead to dry eye.

Dry eye syndrome can also be a sign of diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren’s syndrome. Women are the most common sufferer of dry eye syndrome. Although the syndrome is sometimes incurable, the scratchy and burning symptoms can be subdued with certain dry eye relief methods.