Beware of the "younger age" of dry eye syndrome! Children frequently rub their eyes and blink, beware that this is a sign of dry eye syndrome

Dry eyes in children are a common but easily overlooked eye disease. Compared with adults, children find it difficult to express their symptoms clearly, so parents rarely hear their children say that they have "dry eyes." However, experts remind parents that when they observe their children blinking frequently, tearing, red eyes, rubbing their eyes, etc., they should be alert to the possibility that they may have dry eyes.

Bobo is a 10-year-old fourth grader. One year ago, he started to rub and blink his eyes frequently. His parents took him to several hospitals for treatment. Doctors diagnosed him with entropion and refractive error, but the treatment did not work. Later, his parents took him to the Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University for treatment. After a detailed examination by Yang Wanju, deputy chief physician of the ocular surface and cornea department, Bobo was diagnosed with evaporative dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction, and refractive error.

After learning that Bobo usually likes to eat pizza, hamburgers and other foods, and also likes mobile games, Director Yang Wanju made a comprehensive assessment and pointed out that Bobo's dry eye problem is closely related to his long-term high-fat diet, excessive use of electronic products and other unhealthy lifestyles.

Director Yang Wanju pointed out that more and more children now have clinical manifestations similar to those of adults with dry eye, which is related to improper use of children's eyes, weak expression ability, low cooperation in examinations, and people's lack of understanding of the causes of dry eye in children. Some children's dry eye symptoms are so severe that they affect their vision, and they are easily misdiagnosed when there is no clear diagnosis.

In order to further provide children with dry eyes with more systematic, standardized, comprehensive and personalized diagnosis and treatment, and to let more people understand dry eyes and prevent and treat dry eyes through correct methods, on March 31, the Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University officially established the Children's Dry Eye Clinic.

Director Yang Wanju reminded that children should try not to touch video terminal devices such as tablets before the age of three. Children over three years old should limit the time to half an hour each time and no more than one hour a day. It is recommended that parents interact more with their children and increase outdoor activity time, such as playing more table tennis. This can adjust vision from far to near and help relax the eyes. In addition, pay attention to drinking more water in your daily diet, eat more foods rich in vitamin A, lutein, and anthocyanins, such as eggs, pork liver, carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins, spinach, blueberries, mulberries, etc. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and a balanced diet will help improve dry eye symptoms.