Why does dry eyes affect young people? What eye drops should be used?

Ah, my eyes are so dry. Should I go to the drugstore and buy a bottle of eye drops? I can put a drop in when my eyes are dry.

This is a routine operation for many young people who suffer from dry eyes. But although eye drops are good, can they really cure dry eyes? Wu Shangcao, secretary of the Cornea and Ocular Surface Group of Aier Eye Hospital Group and deputy director of the Ocular Surface and Corneal Disease Department of Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University, is here to talk to you about this.

01. Why does dry eye disease affect 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, and lack tear secretion, 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.

02. What eye drops are used to treat dry eyes?

There are many types of dry eye. First of all, the cause should be identified and symptomatic treatment should be given, so that the effect will be twice as good as the result with half the effort. However, Director Wu Shangcao does not recommend buying and abusing eye drops on your own. Artificial tear eye drops without preservatives should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

Some common eye drops contain preservatives, which can cause your eyes to become drier the longer you use them. Follow your doctor's advice and instructions to use artificial tears that do not contain preservatives. It is a substitute that mimics the composition of human tears and can moisturize your eyes.

03. How do ordinary people relieve dry eyes?

As mentioned above, to relieve and treat dry eyes, we must first identify the cause and take corrective measures against the causative factors.

Dry eyes caused by eye habits. For example, if you use electronic products for a long time, you should control the use time reasonably, stop for a while every once in a while, and try to let your eyes rest. Reduce overtime and stay up late, and have a reasonable work and rest schedule.

Long-term wearing of cosmetic contact lenses or some substandard soft contact lenses can cause dry eyes. It is recommended to stop wearing them or reduce the amount of wearing. If conditions permit, myopia surgery can be considered.

Dry eyes caused by other diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc., should be treated in other departments at the same time as the dry eyes are treated.

Dry eyes caused by some drugs, such as antihypertensive drugs, antidepressants, etc., can be discontinued or replaced with other drugs.

Unexplained dry eyes or severe dry eye symptoms. It is recommended not to delay and go to an ophthalmologist as soon as possible to find out whether it is insufficient tear secretion, excessive evaporation, meibomian gland dysfunction, eye mites or mixed dry eyes, etc., and carry out specific targeted treatment according to the type and cause of dry eyes. Eye drops alone cannot cure severe dry eyes.

Director Wu Shangcao reminds everyone that the abuse of eye drops is also one of the factors that induce dry eyes. Dry eyes are not an "incurable disease", but severe dry eyes cannot be "treated" with ordinary eye drops. Severe dry eyes are prone to repeated and long-term attacks, and treatment is not a one-day job. Only by adhering to the course of treatment can the ideal treatment effect be achieved.