Dry eye, also known as corneoconjunctival dryness, refers to tear film instability and ocular surface damage caused by abnormalities in the quality and quantity of tears. With the rapid development of society, computers, air conditioners and contact lenses are being used more and more extensively, making the incidence of dry eye rise dramatically. Therefore, it is especially important to understand and prevent dry eye.
Ten categories of people are vulnerable to dry eye.
1, 75% of people over the age of 65 suffer from dry eye. This is because the production of tears in the elderly decreases with age. Reduced tear production makes the eyes susceptible to irritation, sometimes causing a violent tearing reaction, i.e., overflowing tears.
2, menopause, pregnancy, lactation, and women taking oral contraceptives can produce dry eye symptoms due to changes in hormone levels.
3, certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, thyroid abnormalities, asthma, cataracts, glaucoma and lupus erythematosus
4, drugs, certain drugs can reduce tear secretion, resulting in dry eye symptoms, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics, hypotensive drugs, anesthetics, anti-ulcer drugs, etc.
5, wear contact lenses, contact lenses are floating on the tears, wearing contact lenses will accelerate the evaporation of tears. The discomfort and poor tolerance of wearing contact lenses is mainly caused by dry eye, especially soft contact lenses can quickly evaporate tears, produce foreign body sensation and make proteins precipitate on the lens. On the other hand dry eye and can make the contact lens wearer’s corneal resistance to damage, making contact lenses more likely to scratch the cornea.
6, environmental factors, smoke, ultraviolet light, air pollution, high temperatures, air conditioning and dry climate can increase the evaporation of tears, leading to dry eye
7, computer users stare at the fluorescent screen for a long time, lack of normal blinking, and blinking can make tears better wet eyes. More than 90% of people who work more than 3 hours a day in front of a computer have eye problems
8. long-term use of certain eye drops, such as vasoconstrictive eye drops, which are also prone to the formation of dry eye disease
9, dysfunction of the lid gland and blockage of the tear dots, resulting in reduced tear secretion and drainage, leading to dry eye.
10, chemical injuries to the eye surface or thermal burns, etc.
In recent years, the trend of dry eye disease is obviously younger, mainly due to modern life, young people’s work and entertainment and television, computer contact more and more, long hours facing the fluorescent screen, lack of timely blinking or let the eyes rest, affecting the tear secretion of both eyes.
Ten kinds of measures to prevent and control dry eye disease.
1.Blink more
People always like to use the “eyes do not blink” to describe someone’s concentration, but do not know that the fewer blinks, the more likely to produce dry eye disease. Therefore, prolonged eye use, such as operating a computer, driving, and reading, can cause dry eye. Blinking is a protective neurological reflex action, and the tear layer allows tears to coat the corneal and conjunctival surfaces evenly to keep them moist and not dry. Normal people blink about 20 times per minute.
2. Pay attention to eyelid hygiene
Pay attention to eye hygiene, wash your hands regularly, and don’t rub your eyes with your hands, which can act as a vector for spreading germs. Take a break from using your eyes for an hour or so, and look into the distance with your eyes closed. For patients with debris and detachments on the eyelids, pay attention to maintaining eyelid hygiene.
3. Reduce the time spent using computers
People who work with computers for a long time, especially young people, should be aware of the symptoms of dry eye and should go to medical consultations as soon as possible. Here is a special tip for people over 40 years old, it is best to use bifocal lenses or wear glasses with a lower prescription when typing. Those who are engaged in computer operation for a long time should eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and increase the intake of vitamin A, B1, C and E at the same time. You can drink green tea and chrysanthemum tea appropriately every day, because the lipopolysaccharide in tea can improve the hematopoietic function of the muscle, and tea has the function of radiation damage prevention.
4, wear tangible glasses
Contact lenses can indeed largely improve a person’s appearance, but it brings not less pain, dry eyes is one of them. Long time wearing contact lenses will make tear secretion reduced, so people who wear contact lenses will always feel dry eyes. Prevent dry eye, promote the wearing of tangible glasses.
5, try to use less air conditioning
In addition to regulating the temperature, air conditioners also dehumidify, reducing the amount of moisture in the air. In this dry environment, the evaporation rate of the tear film increases, which tends to make the eyes dry and astringent. Summer, the weather is hot, to prevent dry eye disease, the use of air conditioning to pay attention to the regular opening of windows and ventilation.
6, as needed point artificial tears
Point artificial tears (nutrient solution) should be careful not to be too frequent, preferably no more than 6 times a day. Because if more than 6 times a day, it will wash away the normal tear film, thus aggravating the symptoms.
7, the use of eye gel
The storage time of eye ointment in the eye is longer, but the eye ointment is greasy, the patient feels not “hygiene”, there is significant blurred vision, poor acceptability. Ophthalmic gel is currently a more desirable preparation. It has a longer retention time in the eye, is hygienic, and has a cooling sensation when applied as a drop, and is well accepted.
8. Treatment of lid gland dysfunction
Do eyelid cleaning and hot compresses. Use a towel dipped in water that is above body temperature but not too hot and apply it to the eye with the eyes closed for about 10 minutes each time. You can also have medical staff massage along the lid gland in the direction of discharge to push out the secretions that cannot be discharged by applying heat.
9. Tear dots embolism
In moderately severe patients who require artificial tears 4 to 5 times a day, the blockage of the tear duct can reduce the symptoms and the amount of artificial tears can be reduced. The blockage will be gradually absorbed after 4 to 7 days, during which the patient’s signs and symptoms will improve.
10.Chinese medicine treatment
Generally, dry eyes can be treated by internal or topical application of Chinese herbs that clear heat and nourish yin and moisten dryness.