thanks loose...i'm sure you are right. strange thing is i googled it after i posted and was surprised to find it can also happen becuse of dry eyes...like trying to put out a fire.
he went to the doc yesterday and he is putting him on antiobiotic drops to see if that will clear it before referring him further but i take your point about his age and i think he would think twice ( if he had to get it done ) before doing the procedure and decide if it was bad enough to warrant it. certainly he is annoyed at times when it happens.
thanks again for your input.
dean.