Dry Eye Disease is a very common problem affecting about 70 percent of people to different degrees.

Symptoms include having red eyes, burning, itching, white secretions and yellowish discharge, pain in and around the eyes, foreign body sensation, sandy or gritty feeling, eyelids stuck together in the morning, tired eyes, sore eyes, fatigue, eye heaviness etc. Dry eyes causes people to secrete excess tears to protect the cornea, and people will have a lot of tears confusing the diagnosis.

Dry eyes can interestingly cause significant blurring of vision and fuzziness especially in late afternoon and evening.

Causes of dryness include environmental factors, hot weather, dusty wind, air pollution, air conditioning, computer use, smart phones and tablets TV etc. Dry eye disease gets worse with age (extremely common above 45, especially in Women).

Dryness Symptoms are augmented by wearing contact lenses, living in polluted areas, cigarette smoking, swimming pool chlorine, sunbathing, night driving etc. Several medications also exacerbate dryness like acne medications ex: ( RoAcutane/Retin A etc), along with medicines for Allergy, Rheumatism, Heart, Blood Pressure and Diabetes etc.

Surgeries like Laser/Lasik/ Cataract cause dry eyes also, but the symptoms usually improve gradually after few weeks in almost all people.

1. Classical approach using artificial tears and lubricant drops and ointments.
2. Advanced Novel Approach including analysis and scanning of the tear film quantity, quality, osmolarity, presence of inflammatory molecules etc..

Last but not least, a good habit to acquire is drinking lots and lots of water !