| Alternative Names:
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| Tearing - decreased; Eyes - dry
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| Home Care:
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The following steps may help:
- Try artificial tears, available as either drops or ointment. Ointments last longer, but are thicker and can cause blurry vision.
- Don't smoke. Avoid second-hand smoke, direct wind, and air conditioning.
- Use a humidifier, especially in the winter.
- Purposefully blink more often. Rest your eyes.
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| Call your health care provider if:
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Call your doctor if:
- Your have red or painful eyes.
- You have flaking, discharge, or a lesion on your eye or eyelid.
- You have had trauma to your eye, or you have a bulging eye or a drooping eyelid.
- You have joint pain, swelling, or stiffness.
- You also have a dry mouth.
- Your dry eyes do not respond to self-care measures within a few days.
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| What to expect at your health care provider's office:
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Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, including a careful eye examination.
To help better understand your dry eyes, your doctor may ask the following:
- How long have you had dry eyes? Does it involve one or both eyes?
- Do you have it all of the time or does it only occur at certain times, with certain activities, or in certain places?
- Does the dryness seem related to wind, dust, chemicals, sun, or light exposure?
- Does it affect your vision?
- Does it cause pain?
- Do your eyelids close easily?
- Have you noticed any drainage from your eyes?
- Does anything make your dry eyes worse?
- Does anything make your dry eyes better?
- Have you tried artificial tears? Do they help?
- Are you taking any medications? Which ones ?
- Have you had surgery or an injury to your eyes or nose?
- Do you have allergies?
- Have you been using any new cosmetics?
- Do you have any other symptoms like dry mouth or joint discomfort?
Your doctor may perform tearing tests that an help diagnose dry eyes. Artificial tears may be prescribed.
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