If my eyes are dry, why do they water?

It seems counterintuitive: if your eyes are dry, why do they water excessively? This is known as the Dry Eye Paradox, and it’s one of the most common signs of chronic Dry Eye Syndrome. At Eye Consultants of North Dakota, we know this confusion often comes down to the quality of your tears, not just the quantity.

Understanding the Cycle

Your eyes normally have complex tears made of three layers: oil, water, and mucus. In most cases of dry eye, the outer oil layer is insufficient. This causes your watery tears to evaporate too quickly, leaving the surface of the eye dry and irritated.

When your eye surface gets irritated and dehydrated, it sends a panic signal to your brain. Your brain responds by flooding the eyes with a rush of emergency “reflex tears.” These emergency tears are mostly water and lack the necessary oil and nutrients to properly coat and protect the eye. They quickly run off or evaporate, and the irritation returns, starting the cycle of dryness and excessive watering all over again.

If you are experiencing constant dryness, redness, or tearing, you need to treat the root cause—which is often the quality of your tears.

Schedule your appointment today with Eye Consultants of North Dakota!