In a healthy eye, with each blink tears spread across the front surface of the eye. Tears are essential in providing lubrication, reducing the risk of eye infections, washing away foreign matter in the eye, and keeping the surface of the eyes smooth and clear. Excess tears in the eyes flow into small drainage ducts in the inner corners of the eyelids, which drain into the back of the nose. Dry eyes can occur when tear production and drainage are not in balance. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or their tears are of poor quality.

Read our Dry Eye articles below.