Dry Eyes

Healthy eyes are naturally moist with tears and move around smoothly. Tears lubricate the eye and help maintain the eye by cleaning the eye. Dry eyes on the other hand do not have enough tears to lubricate the eyes. Folks that have dry eyes or even chronic dry eyes should use a medicated eye drop such as restasis which is a prescription eye drop which helps to increase tear production. Often times dry eyes will swell the tear ducts closed, cutting off the tears. Some eye drops may not be used if you have an active eye infection.

 Here is a view of the tear duct.

As you age your tear ducts decrease in size which is a contributor to dry eyes. Often times newborn babies are born with under developed tear ducts which will cause dry eyes. When the tear duct doesn't open but is full of tears it can become swollen and become infected. If it becomes irritated, swollen, red or discolored then it is most likely time for a medicated eye drop with an antibiotic.