Dry eye syndrome, or dry eye disease, is a common condition that occurs when the eyes don't make enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to the eyes drying out and becoming red, swollen and irritated. Dry eye syndrome is also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or simply "dry eyes".
Dry eye syndrome isn't usually a serious condition. Treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms, which include:
- eye drops to lubricate the eyes
- medications to reduce any inflammation
- if necessary, surgery to prevent tears from draining away easily
If dry eye syndrome is caused by an underlying condition, treating this condition usually helps to relieve the symptoms.