Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that affects one in five adults and can significantly impair the quality of life. Tears lubricate the eye and stop the surface from drying out. A thin film of tears is swept over the eye surface every time you blink.
Dry Eye occurs when there are not enough tears produced to lubricate your eyes and / or not enough oil to stop the tears from evaporating too quickly. Not blinking enough can also contribute to the problem.
The tear film is made up of three different layers, an inner mucous layer, the bulky middle watery / aqueous layer and the outer oily layer.
At Outlook Eye Centre we have an extensive range of dry eye assessment tools that we use – correct diagnosis of dry eye is important so that we can tailor specialised treatments for each individual.
There are a number of options that are available however most of these treat the symptoms rather than the underlying cause of dry eye.