Do your eyes become dry after using the computer for a long time? Quickly "rehydrate" your eyes! Understanding dry eye syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is a general term for a variety of diseases caused by abnormal tear quality, quantity or dynamics due to any reason, which leads to decreased tear film stability and is accompanied by eye discomfort and/or ocular surface tissue lesions. It is also called keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Common symptoms of dry eye syndrome include dry eyes, easy fatigue, itchy eyes, foreign body sensation, pain and burning sensation, sticky secretions, fear of wind, fear of light, and sensitivity to external stimuli; sometimes the eyes are too dry and the basic tears are insufficient, which stimulates reflex tear secretion and causes frequent tearing; in more serious cases, the eyes will become red, swollen, congested, keratinized, and the corneal epithelium will be broken with filaments attached. This damage can cause conjunctival lesions over time and affect vision.

As the number of computer users increases, eye problems are also increasing. According to relevant statistics, 60% of computer users suffer from dry eyes, and 70% of them do not really pay attention to the crisis facing their eyes.

Causes of Dry Eyes

▶ The environment, such as a dry room, causes increased evaporation of tears.

▶ Due to physiological reasons such as advanced age, lack of sleep, and mental stress, the quality of tears decreases.

▶ The number of blinks decreases when you engage in computer operation, drive a car, use a mobile phone for a long time, etc.

▶ Insufficient secretion of the oil layer: Eyelid sebaceous gland dysfunction caused by eyelid diseases.

▶ Insufficient secretion of the mucin layer: vitamin A deficiency, chronic conjunctivitis, pemphigoid, chemical burns, etc.

▶ Due to contact lenses, allergic conjunctivitis, air pollution, ultraviolet rays and other reasons, tears decrease and their quality declines.

▶ Excessive tear evaporation and uneven tear film distribution: Eyelid diseases cause poor eyelid closure, reduced blinking (such as concentrating on driving for a long time or staring at the screen for a long time to reduce the number of blinks), and long-term work in an air-conditioned room or outdoor environment with strong wind and heat.

▶ Taking some antihypertensive drugs and some tranquilizers can also affect the production of tear film. For example, taking chlorpheniramine has side effects on the tear film, and taking propranolol and certain contraceptives can reduce tear production.

▶ Long-term use of certain eye drops, such as vasoconstrictive eye drops, is also one of the causes of dry eyes.

Treatment of dry eyes

Improve the environment: Improve the air humidity, maintain a certain humidity in the room, and place a humidifier in the air-conditioned room.

Drug treatment: Artificial tears are substitutes for human tears. Artificial tears are eye drops that can moisturize the eyes. Using artificial tears can effectively relieve symptoms and allow the patient's eye surface to re-form an artificial protective film. Commonly used artificial tears often contain preservatives. It is recommended to use preservative-free artificial tears in individual packages. Long-term use of artificial tears containing preservatives can cause damage to the corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells on the eye surface. It is not recommended to buy artificial tears on your own.

Physical therapy: Suitable for people with meibomian gland dysfunction. Eye cleaning is essential, including hot compress, massage and scrubbing. For example, apply hot compress to the eyelid for 5-10 minutes, warm the upper and lower eyelid skin to 42-45℃; massage the eyelids, hold the eyelid margin with your fingers and make a rotating motion, the massage time is preferably about 20 minutes; scrub the eyelid margin with a mild cleaning solution. Meibomian gland massage can relieve blockage, reopen the meibomian gland duct, and discharge secretions smoothly.

How to prevent dry eyes

Avoid staring : Blink frequently, at least 4-5 times per minute.

Don’t use the air conditioner for too long : avoid air flow over the seats, and place water near the seats to increase the humidity of the surrounding environment.

Eat more foods rich in vitamins : fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fish, etc. are all helpful.

Maintain good living habits : get enough sleep and don’t stay up late.

Avoid watching videos for long periods of time : usually watch videos for 1 hour, then take a 5-10 minute break. During the break, you can look into the distance or do eye exercises.

Maintain the most appropriate posture : keep your eyes level or slightly looking down at the screen. Place the TV, mobile phone, and computer below eye level, and do not watch videos for too long. Desks and computers should be placed where they are not exposed to direct sunlight, as images that reflect light can also cause eye fatigue.