Why do eyes become dry and itchy in summer?

Although it is not yet the "hot summer" stage, the hot weather has made people sweat profusely. Not only can the skin not stand it, but the eyes also "protest". Dry eyes and itchy eyes have become a standard feature of summer. What's going on?

Wu Shangcao

Associate Chief Physician

Deputy Director of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Research Group of Aier Eye Hospital Group in Hubei Province

Deputy Director of Ocular Surface and Corneal Diseases Department, Aier Eye Hospital, Wuhan University

Expertise: diagnosis and treatment of various difficult corneal diseases, including infectious ocular surface diseases, keratoconus, chemical eye injuries, immune ocular surface diseases, as well as corneal transplantation, corneal collagen cross-linking, amniotic membrane transplantation, conjunctival flap coverage, pterygium excision combined with autologous limbal stem cell transplantation.

1

Why are eyes prone to dryness and itchiness in summer?

Director Wu Shangcao said that the eyes are a very "fragile" organ and can be easily injured. Especially in summer, these problems may occur if you are not careful.

In the hot summer, people spend a large part of their time in air-conditioned rooms. While cooling, air conditioning also reduces air humidity. In addition, with doors and windows closed, the tear film of the eyes, like the skin, evaporates faster, and the eyes are prone to redness, dryness, and a foreign body sensation.

People sweat a lot in the summer, and sweat enters the eyes along with bacteria on the face or in the air. In addition, many people are in the habit of rubbing their eyes, or go swimming in unclean places or the water quality of the swimming pool does not meet the standards. These problems can easily lead to itchy eyes and even acute conjunctivitis (pink eye).

In addition to the common factors mentioned above, some diseases such as incomplete eyelid closure caused by various reasons, Sjögren's syndrome, diabetes, etc. can also aggravate the symptoms of dry eyes.

2

How to improve dry eyes and other problems

To improve problems such as dry eyes, start by changing your lifestyle habits and take care of your eyes.

Protect your eyes from the sun. When you go out in the summer, the sun is often dazzling. We all know that ultraviolet rays are harmful to the skin, so we will take protective measures, but many people ignore the "sun protection" for their eyes. In the summer noon, don't look directly at the sun with your eyes. Wear sunglasses or a sun hat when going out during this period.

Blink more and look into the distance more often. If you work in front of a computer or other electronic products for a long time, you can look into the distance and blink frequently to give your eyes a rest and moisturize your eyeballs.

Apply hot compresses. In addition to secreting tears, the eyes can also secrete a small amount of oil to help reduce tear evaporation. The meibomian glands that secrete oil are often blocked, and applying hot towels to the eyes can help unclog the meibomian glands.

You should also protect your eyes when swimming. Swimming is a good exercise in summer. It not only exercises the body, but also keeps you cool and relieves the heat. However, you must choose a more formal swimming place when swimming, especially a swimming pool with adequate disinfection measures.

Director Wu Shangcao reminded that in summer, the eyes are easily affected by some factors, which threatens the health of the eyes. When symptoms of eye discomfort occur, do not delay and go to a professional hospital for an eye examination in time.