How to relieve dry eyes while fighting the epidemic at home?

In early spring this year, the COVID-19 pandemic came with great force, and the numbers that change every day have touched the hearts of people across the country. During the critical period of epidemic prevention and control, most people can only stay at home, and the time spent in front of electronic products has been significantly extended. Such eye fatigue will not only lead to anxiety and abnormal life rhythm, but also cause dry eye problems. So when symptoms such as dry eyes, stinging, and foreign body sensation occur during the epidemic, and it is inconvenient to go to the hospital for medical treatment, how should we relieve the discomfort of dry eyes? Please accept this home "eye protection guide"!

The first method: You can use a disposable heating eye mask or a hot water towel to apply hot compress to your eyes every day. Close your eyes and apply hot compress for 10-15 minutes. Maintain the temperature at 40-45℃, 2-5 times a day. The last time can be arranged before going to bed. This can relieve dry eye symptoms the next morning (do not apply hot compress when the eyes are in the inflammatory stage).

The second trick: ensure the appropriate indoor temperature and humidity. When the indoor temperature and humidity are not appropriate, it is easy to cause eye discomfort, especially high room temperature and low humidity will more easily lead to dry eyes and eye fatigue. You can improve the air quality by placing an air purifier and air humidifier in the room and ventilating regularly.

The third trick: Ensure a good work and rest schedule. If the biological clock is disrupted, the hormone level will be disrupted, which will reduce immunity and increase the incidence of dry eyes or other eye diseases. Therefore, you must ensure adequate sleep, avoid staying up late, and exercise properly even when you are indoors.

Tip 4: Ensure proper use of eyes. Han Honglin, director of the dry eye diagnosis and treatment clinic at Zhengzhou Aier Eye Hospital, reminds that when electronic screens must be used, the screen light should not be too bright, and electronic products should be used with the lights on at night. If you use your eyes continuously for more than 1 hour, you need to rest for 10 minutes, and you can relax by basking in the sun and looking into the distance on the balcony.

Tip 5: Ensure the number of blinks. Blinking can evenly distribute the tear film to the eye surface and moisten the eyes. At the same time, the blinking action can also promote the discharge of lipids secreted by the meibomian glands, protect the tears from evaporation, improve the stability of the tear film, and prevent dry eyes. Steps for blinking exercises: lightly close your eyes for two seconds, close your eyes tightly for two seconds, open your eyes for another two seconds, and repeat this cycle. Train for 1 minute each time, 10 times a day.

During this special period, we need to use scientific eye protection and maintain good eye habits. Patients who have been diagnosed with dry eyes need to use artificial tears regularly while at home, and those with eyelid inflammation should continue to cooperate with eyelid cleaning treatment to avoid recurrence of the disease. If you are unable to buy medicine or seek medical treatment due to the epidemic, you can also use the above five tricks to relieve the discomfort of dry eyes. I hope that after the epidemic is over, when we meet, each other's eyes will still be full of light!