Advanced Eye and Laser Center of California, Inc.

Tears do more than release pent up emotions. They’re chemical make-up keeps eyes smooth, clear and healthy providing protection and comfort for your visual experience.

What are Tears Made of?
Tears are made up of bacteria-fighting enzymes, oil and water. They originate from small glands found inside the upper eyelid. The salty middle layer washes away irritants and foreign particles while the first mucous-like layer helps spread the tears across the eye’s surface.

The eye normally blinks once every 12 seconds. Every time you blink, the glands go to work creating healthy moisturizing tears spreading a healing film across the surface of the eye. If the blink rate decreases, tears evaporate quicker. Certain visually intensive tasks such as , reading and long term computer work, and excessive driving means less blinking and an increase in dry eye problems.

Eye Problems from Inadequate Tear Production
Tear production keeps the eyes comfortable and fights off infection caused by microorganisms that live on the eyes’ surface. If the tear production is imbalanced, dry eye syndrome can result. The most common causes of dry eyes and inadequate tear production include:

• Environmental factors - sun, wind, high altitude, dry climate
• Aging
• Eyelids problems including poor lid functioning
• Hormonal changes
• Various medications – including diuretics, antihistamines, birth control pills, sleep pills, morphine and antidepressants
• Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma

Diet, teardrops and tear plugs can control dry eye syndrome. It’s important to get a professional diagnosis from your eye health practitioner on the cause of your symptoms.

If you’re suffering from dry eyes and are in the San Diego, California area, please come see the eye and laser specialists at Advanced Eye & Laser Center of California, Inc. Contact us for a consultation and examination to determine the best treatment for all your vision needs. Your perfect vision is our priority.