Dry, dry, dry...What should I do if I have dry eyes?

The "Expert Consensus on Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Dry Eyes" released by the Corneal Disease Group of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association pointed out that the incidence of dry eyes in my country is approximately 21% to 30%, which means that at least 1 in every 5 people suffers from the disease.

With the rapid development of society and modern technology, the impact of lifestyle-related factors is becoming increasingly greater, the incidence of dry eyes is increasing year by year, and it has become a lifestyle disease.

What is dry eyes?

Dry eye is a chronic ocular surface disease caused by multiple factors. It is caused by abnormal tear quality and quantity, which leads to unstable tear film or imbalance of ocular surface microenvironment. It can be accompanied by ocular surface inflammation, tissue damage and nerve abnormalities, causing various ocular discomfort symptoms or visual dysfunction. People who work with computers, drivers, stay up late for a long time, like to wear makeup and contact lenses, and abuse eye drops for a long time are all more likely to suffer from dry eye.

What are the symptoms of dry eyes?

Typical symptoms of dry eyes include dry eyes, fatigue, foreign body sensation, and may also include photophobia, fear of wind, stinging, itching, burning sensation, soreness and swelling. In severe cases, conjunctival congestion, corneal epithelial detachment, and even corneal ulcers and infections may occur, leading to difficulty opening the eyes and decreased vision.

Why does dry eyes "hate" young people?

In the past, the main group of people suffering from dry eyes were the elderly over 65 years old, drivers, etc., but with the popularization of electronic products, many young people and office workers have joined the ranks of dry eyes. As they spend too much time in front of electronic products such as laptops and mobile phones, their eyes are attracted by electronic screens, blink less frequently, and tear secretion is insufficient, which naturally increases the probability of dry eyes.

Heavy users of electronic products and those who wear cosmetic contact lenses or some substandard soft contact lenses for a long time are all people who are "favored" by dry eyes.

How to relieve common types of dry eyes

For young people, most dry eyes are caused by long-term stressful eye use and bad eye habits. Changing some bad eye habits can greatly alleviate dry eyes.

1. For those who wear contact lenses, it is recommended to stop wearing them or reduce the time of wearing them;
2. For those who have to face the computer due to work, it is recommended to use the eyes at close range for 40 minutes and look into the distance for 5-10 minutes to avoid long-term strain on the eyes;
3. People who like to watch short videos or play with mobile phones before going to bed should reduce the time they are addicted to mobile phones.

4. When your eyes are dry, you can apply a hot towel to your eyes for 10-15 minutes, or do blinking exercises to relieve symptoms of dry and tired eyes.

In addition, it is not advisable to buy and abuse eye drops on your own. It is recommended to use artificial tears that are closer to the composition of eye tears under the guidance of a doctor.

Experts have something to say

Chen Xiangxi, deputy chief physician of the Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University, introduced that although the incidence of dry eyes is high and affects a wide range of people, many people do not know that "dry eyes" is a disease and have no awareness of seeking medical treatment. Many patients suffer from moderate to severe dry eyes due to delayed treatment. Moderate to severe dry eyes cause repeated inflammation of the eyes due to dryness and damage to the cornea, which may eventually affect vision.

If you feel you have symptoms of dry eyes, you should consult a professional ophthalmologist for treatment. The Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University has now opened a dry eye clinic, which provides targeted diagnosis and treatment plans for different types of dry eye patients.