Sometimes working long hours in front of a computer or spending a day in a dry air-conditioned room can cause dryness, itching, and even pain in your eyes... Don't ignore this, it may be a warning from a dry eye clinic.

 

Don't worry, today we have invited ophthalmologist Zhu Ruijun to learn about the causes, prevention, and treatment of dry eye diagnosis, and help you better protect your eye health.

 

What is dry eye examination?

Dry eye examination is one of the most common eye diseases. Before explaining what dry eye diagnosis is, we first need to understand the structure and function of tears.

 

We have a layer of tears on the surface of our eyes, which are evenly distributed and covered on the cornea and conjunctiva through blinking, forming a lubricating protective film.
 

 

The tear layer can be divided into three layers from the outside to the inside

• Oil layer
Secreted by the sebaceous glands of the eyelids, located in the outermost layer of tears, its main function is to increase and delay the evaporation of tears, lubricate the eyelids and surface of the eyeball.
 

• Water liquid layer
Secreted by the lacrimal gland, it is located in the middle layer of tears and accounts for the vast majority of tears. Its main function is to lubricate the surface of the eye.
 

• Mucin layer
Secreted by the conjunctiva, located in the innermost layer of tears, its main function is to evenly distribute tears on the surface of the cornea and conjunctiva.

If any or more of these three layers of tears are insufficiently secreted or unevenly distributed, it can cause dry eye diagnosis.

 

What are the symptoms of dry eye examination?

Dry eye patients may experience dryness, itching, pain, fear of wind, light, tears, redness, and swelling in the eyes. They are prone to eye fatigue, tight eyelids, thick eye secretions, foreign body sensation, and burning sensation, which can seriously affect vision.

 

Dry eye diagnosis can lead to other eye diseases/complications such as corneal erosion, filamentous keratitis, corneal scars, visual impairment, and in severe cases, corneal perforation, blindness, and so on.

 

Does everyone suffer from dry eye diagnosis?

According to relevant data, the incidence rate of dry eye diagnosis in China is 21% -30%, and there is about one dry eye diagnosis patient in every five people.

 

According to data released by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2022, approximately 30% of people in Hong Kong suffer from varying degrees of dry eye disease.

 

Why suffer from dry eye diagnosis?

There are many reasons for dry eye diagnosis, such as:

1. Age and hormonal changes
Aging, hormonal changes during pregnancy or after menopause in women.
 

2. Lifestyle habits
Long term staring at electronic screens or working in dry environments, wearing contact lenses for a long time, being in windy, smoky, and dry environments for a long time, and not blinking frequently.
 

3. Certain physical illnesses
For example, comprehensive diagnosis of dryness, allergic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, thyroid disease, or vitamin A Lack of diagnosis, etc.
 

4. Certain medications
For example, antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, hypertension, acne, contraception, Parkinson's disease drugs, and so on.
 

5. Certain eye diseases
For example, eyelid eversion, meibomian gland dysfunction, exposure keratitis, neurogenic keratitis, and so on.
 

6. Have undergone a certain type of ophthalmic surgery
For example, laser vision correction surgery.
 

7. Long term use of eye drops containing preservatives.
 

 

What are the preventive methods?

8. Get enough sleep and avoid staying up late.
 

9. Avoid long-term exposure to windy, smoky, and dry environments.
 

10. Eat more vegetables and fruits containing vitamins A, C, and E, and eat less fried foods.
 

11. Give your eyes sufficient and appropriate rest, avoid prolonged eye use, excessive fatigue, and pay attention to the frequency of blinking.
 

12. Avoid wearing contact lenses for a long time.
 

13. Pay attention to the cleanliness of eyelids and eyelashes when washing your face. Applying a hot towel can reduce fatigue and increase tear secretion.

 

What are the existing treatment methods?

The treatment of dry eye mainly aims to alleviate the symptoms of dry eye, avoid corneal damage, and maintain a smooth and clear surface of the eyeball. The treatment plan depends on the cause and severity of dry eye diagnosis.

 

14. Mild dry eye patients
Try to improve living habits, drop artificial tears (including liquid medicine, ointment, gel), apply hot eye mask, eyelid cleaning tablets, and supplement nutrients such as DHA、EPA reach Omega3 wait.
 

15. Moderate dry eye patients
You can increase the frequency of artificial tears, use preservative free artificial tears, cyclosporine eye drops, steroid eye drops, wear windproof or moisturizing glasses, lower indoor temperature, increase humidity, lacrimal duct thrombosis, dry eye treatment machine, thermal pulse therapy, pulsed light therapy, thermal energy therapy, low-energy light therapy, and so on.
 

16. Severe dry eye patients
In addition to the above treatment methods, surgery may also be necessary at times, such as electrocautery for lacrimal duct embolization, eyelid suturing, and so on.

 

It is recommended that patients consult an ophthalmologist first to understand the cause and actual situation of the disease before prescribing medication for treatment.

 

reference material:

[1] Consensus of Chinese Dry Eye Experts (2020)

[2] Multi center Big Data Report on Dry Eyes in China Aier Ophthalmology

[3] "CUHK Medical School Research Shows that COVID-19 Rehabilitators Have a Higher Risk of Dry Eye Diagnosis", Ophthalmology Center of the Chinese University of Hong Kong