Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a generalized term used to describe a chronic deficiency in moisture or lubrication on the surface of the eye. This results in uncomfortable irritation, and sometimes inflammation of the tissues of the eyeball.
This syndrome is also known by the medical term keratitis sicca, xerophtalmia, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca when it specifically affects the cornea and conjunctiva.
Dry eyes can result from the eye not producing enough tears, or by the moisture evaporating from the eye at an abnormally fast rate. There is a wide variety of potential causes behind these symptoms, such as: part of the aging process or menopause, dry or dusty atmospheric conditions, a side-effect of certain medications or anti-histimines, contact lens usage, and more.
One popular treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome is artificial tears, or lubricating eye drops. These products (not to be confused with drops aimed at eliminating redness from eyes) moisturize the eyeball with an artificial solution that mimics the viscosity of natural tears.