Dry eye

A dry eye is a condition where either the eye does not produce enough tears, or the tears do not lubricate the eyes sufficiently. This makes the eyes feel uncomfortable, gritty, burning, and sometimes makes the white of the eyes appear very red.  Dry eye can affect anyone at any time, although it is more common as we get older and as a side effect of the medication.  Confusingly one common symptom is the eyes watering excessively, especially in windy weather.  Often, symptoms can be relieved by treating the glands in the eyelids and by using artificial tears to lubricate the eyes better, although long-term dry eye may need further investigation to rule out any general health problems.