Dry Eye: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and Natural Approaches

Dry eye syndrome affects millions of Americans every year.

Dry eye tends to be more common in women. Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock

Dry eye, also known as dry eye syndrome and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (chronic dry eye), is a common condition affecting nearly 16.4 million Americans, or about 6.8 percent of the U.S. adult population. It occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears don’t function properly, leading to dryness, irritation, and discomfort.

Dry eye syndrome has two main causes: insufficient tear production and rapid tear evaporation. Illustration by The Epoch Times, Shutterstock