Management of dry eye syndrome

What is dry eye syndrome?

Dry eye syndrome is a deficiency of the tear film that results in desiccation of the ocular surface. The integrity of the tear film may be compromised in one (or more) of its three components: an inner mucous layer, secreted by the goblet cells of the conjunctiva, that decreases the surface tension and wetting ability of the middle aqueous layer; a middle aqueous layer, produced by the lacrimal gland; and an external lipid layer, produced by the meibomian glands, that reduces evaporation of the middle aqueous layer.