Decreased tear production is a common occurrence as we all age and may occur secondary to many ocular surgeries. The symptoms may include but are not limited to a dry burning feeling, red eyes, and a sandy, gritty sensation. When patients enter our offices we usually categorize their disorders based on a variety of factors including age. Dry eye patients are not usually children and as a result this very common condition may go undiagnosed.

When a child rubs his/her eyes there may be a number of reasons, but while dry eyes are not often included in the differential diagnosis, it should be. The underlying causes of their symptoms and thus eye rubbing may be dry eyes caused by several anomalies. Inflammatory disease caused by such conditions as Sjogren’s, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and viral disease may be just a few causes. Congenital disorders and poor nutrition including vitamin deficiencies can also cause dry eyes in the young. More serious diseases like diabetes and other vascular conditions may also be the reason.

In short, we must always consider dry eyes when a child enters our office with ocular symptoms. Excluding this common condition simply because of age will result in a misdiagnosis and very unhappy child and parent.