Even if all the components of your tears are normal, dry spots can still appear on your eyes in certain situations. The corneal cells on the eye's surface have very delicate structures that allow the tears to "stick" to the eye. If these structures are damaged, tear film can break up too quickly.
You might not be able to tell that you have damaged corneal cells, but if your eyes feel dry, or you have a burning sensation often described as "gritty eyes," you may want to see your eye doctor. Using a corneal staining method (a diagnostic fluorescent stain) and a slit lamp (a special lamp used to see these stains up close), they'll be able to determine if you have surface damage.
Tear Distribution
If you do have surface damage, your corneal cells can heal more quickly if they are coated with a lubricant that protects them and keeps them moist. Using a drop such as SYSTANE® ULTRA Lubricant Eye Drops will help keep moisture on the eye longer, to help relieve the uncomfortable feeling of gritty eyes. Talk to your eye doctor for more dry eye information.
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