The Dose 21:34 What should I know about dry eye? Read transcribed audio It's a complex condition that affects roughly one-fifth of Canadians — and that number is growing , including among young people. Dry eye can range from mild to severe, and experts say it can have a big impact on someone's overall health and quality of life. Dry eye happens when the surface of the eye isn't well-lubricated.
That can be because you don't produce enough tears, in what's called aqueous deficient dry eye, or because the tears evaporate too quickly — that's called evaporative dry eye. "It's really the surface of your eye that doesn't have good-quality tear film, which is really important for comfort and for vision," said ophthalmologist Dr. Johanna Choremis, an associate professor at the University of Montreal and assistant professor at McGill University.
Preservative-free eye drops are the first-line treatment for dry eye, say experts. (Shutterstock) The eye's tear film is made up of three layers: an oily outer layer that keeps the tears from drying up, a watery middle layer that keeps the eye wet, and an inner mucus layer that helps the film stick to the eye. "We need all those three layers to be working properly to have a good tear film," Choremis told Dr.
Brian Goldman, the host of CBC's The Dose . What does dry eye feel like? The numerous symptoms of dry eye include eyes that feel irritated, itchy or gritty, being sensitive to light, and blurred vision. Not everyone will be sensitive .
