Dry eyes Causes and Treatment

Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) is a chronic condition characterised
by dryness of the surface of the eye. 



Causes
It is caused by either a deficiency of conjunctival mucus, due to the absence or significant impairment of the mucinproducing goblet cells of the conjunctiva,
 or tear deficiency, the latter often associated with rheumatoid arthritis.



Treatment
Treatment is usually with tear substitutes (‘artificial tears’), containing
compounds that enhance wetting, viscosity and stability of tears. These are:
hypromellose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carbomer 940, and hydrophobic ocular
lubricants containing liquid and soft paraffins, such as Simple Eye Ointment.