Dry eyes

Tears are a complex combination of water, oils, and lipids, helping to lubricate the eye, wash away debris, stabilise vision, and protect against infection. Every time we blink, our tears cover the front surface of our eye, known as the cornea, keeping it hydrated and healthy. When the eyes don’t produce enough tear fluid, when the quality of the tear fluid produced is poor, or when the tear fluid evaporates too quickly, we can get dry or scratchy eyes, and our eyes can become irritated and inflamed.

Dry eyes are usually harmless, although they can result in increased sensitivity and burning in the eyes. If inflammation or infection is suspected, the treatment depends on the cause, the area of infection in the eye, and the degree of the infection. If you have any worries that you may have dry eyes, blurry vision, or sore eyes, you should visit an optometrist, as you may need eye drops with antibiotics.