What is dry eye?

Dry eye is exactly that: a lack of moisture on the surface of the eye. However, that simple lack of moisture can trigger chronic inflammation, occasionally with significant consequences. Everyone depends upon tears to keep their eyes comfortable and healthy, and their vision clear. For a variety of reasons, including advancing age, general health conditions (and many medications used in their treatment), and environmental conditions, many of us will have signs and/or symptoms of insufficient tear volume, from mild irritation to sight-threatening corneal scarring.