Dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a condition where your eyes do not make enough tears, or your tears evaporate too quickly. This can lead to your eyes drying out, and becoming inflamed.

How common is dry eye?

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition. However, estimates of how many people are affected by the condition vary. Dry eye syndrome is more likely to affect people who are over the age of 60, and the condition is more common among women than men.

The symptoms of dry eye syndrome may include:

• feelings of dryness, grittiness, or soreness, in both your eyes, which get worse throughout the day,
• redness of your eyes,
• your eyes water, particularly when you are exposed to wind, and
• your eyelids stick together on waking.

An optometrist will use special equipment to examine your eye, and will be able to confirm whether you have dry eye syndrome, and any other associated conditions and complications. They will also be able to give you advice about treatment. Although your GP may refer you to an optometrist, they are private practitioners and charge for their services.

There are a number of tests that the optometrist can carry out in order to assess the quality and quantity of your tears. 

Mild to moderate cases of dry eye syndrome can normally be successfully treated with eye drops that contain 'tear substitutes', a liquid that is designed to mimic the properties of tears. These eye drops are available from our practice.