Dry eyes: Can more eye drops cure it? Doctor: Don’t abuse eye drops!

Half a month ago, 47-year-old Aunt Liang felt dry eyes, so she went to the drugstore to buy some eye drops, which she used every day. But half a month later, Aunt Liang still felt dry eyes.

"My eyes are very dry, and I put a lot of eye drops every day, but it doesn't work!" Aunt Liang said that the more eye drops she put in, the drier her eyes became. She even felt a foreign body in her eyes these days, which was very uncomfortable. So Aunt Liang came to the Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease Department of the Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University for an examination today. After a series of examinations, the doctor diagnosed Aunt Liang with dry eye syndrome, and said that dry eye syndrome and dry eyes are two different things, and she must not put a lot of eye drops on her own at will, so as not to backfire.

Chen Xiangxi, PhD, associate chief physician, secretary of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Group of Aier Eye Hospital Group, and deputy director of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease Department of Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University, said: Simply applying eye drops and feeling the moisture at the moment is not very meaningful for treatment; and inappropriate eye drops may damage the lipid layer, corneal and conjunctival cells, etc., and aggravate the condition. If relevant symptoms occur, you must go to the hospital for examination in time and receive early treatment.

What is dry eye?

Dry eyes are a common chronic ophthalmic disease caused by insufficient tear secretion, excessive and rapid tear evaporation, abnormal tear composition, etc., which lead to reduced stability of the tear film, eye discomfort and ocular surface lesions.

What are the symptoms of dry eyes?

Typical symptoms of dry eye syndrome 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.

Shen Lei, director of the comprehensive ophthalmology department of the Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University, emphasized: Dry eye syndrome is a chronic disease that often requires long-term treatment to improve. Therefore, patients with dry eye syndrome should not be anxious, and must actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment and recover health as soon as possible!

Wu Shangcao, deputy chief physician and deputy director of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease Department of the Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University, said: Patients with dry eyes should not abuse drugs at will. This will not only fail to improve the condition, but may delay the disease or even make it worse. They should go to a regular hospital in time to determine the type, degree and cause of dry eyes and receive treatment.