Have you watched "Crazy" lately? Gao Qiqiang, played by Zhang Songwen, has grown from a kind fishmonger to a ruthless underworld boss, and his CP with his sister-in-law Chen Shuting is also faint.
In a recent episode, Gao Qiqiang said that he was terminally ill in order to see Chen Shuting for the last time.
What terminal illness? Dry eye syndrome... Gao Qiqiang: "At present, there is no medicine that can cure it, so we must always drop eye drops."
If your eyes are swollen, dry eyes, tears or even long-term dry eyes, you may also have the same "terminal illness" as Gao Qiqiang. In recent years, the incidence of dry eye syndrome has been on the rise, and the number of ophthalmic patients has also increased, according to statistics, about 17% of people in China suffer from dry eye syndrome.
So many people have dry eyes? I shouted out the same question from Chen Shuting in my heart:
On the surface of the eye, there is a protective layer of liquid
On the surface of the human eye, there is a layer of liquid called tear film. The tear film has three layers, from the outside to the inside, the lipid layer, the water layer, and the mucus layer, which cover the surface of the eye, play a lubricating and moisturizing role, and also provide nutrients for the ocular surface tissue.
Every time we blink, a new layer of fluid forms on the surface of the eye to maintain the integrity of the tear film. If we don't blink and let the liquid in the tear film evaporate, the eye surface will lose its protective layer and we will feel that our eyes are sour.
The three-layer structure of the tear film | vmcli.com
Typically, the integrity of the tear film can be maintained for 15-45 seconds, which is higher than the 10-15 blinks per minute in our relaxed state. But dry eye sufferers tend to have newly formed tear films that are unstable and rupture quickly, so they need more blinking to maintain the integrity of the tear film.
There are many reasons why tear film fluid secretion decreases or evaporates more, and if the stability of the tear film decreases as a result, dry eye syndrome is likely to occur.
Do you also have these symptoms?
People with dry eye usually have a range of other symptoms in addition to dry eyes:
Sensitive to light, when you get up in the morning, you will be a little unable to open your eyes;
often feel that the eyelids are heavy or that there is something in the eyes;
The eyes may be reddened or burning;
The eyes are easily fatigued, blurry will appear, and it will be difficult to concentrate on study and work;
It is easy to shed tears in the wind.
Windward acute outflow of fluid, which is unbalanced in composition compared to usual tear film fluid, does not relieve dryness well | Figureworm Creative
Dry eye syndrome generally does not cause blindness, but it can significantly reduce the quality of life, and long-term dry eyes are easy to develop into dry eye syndrome, so it needs to be paid attention to.
These factors increase the risk of dry eye
The etiology of dry eye is complex and the associated pathogenesis is not fully understood, but population studies have confirmed that the following factors increase the risk of dry eye.
Increasing age
Dry eye syndrome is more common in people over the age of 40 because tear secretion gradually decreases with age. In recent years, with the popularity of electronic products and contact lenses, there have been more and more young patients.
female
Women are more likely to suffer from dry eye. In women who are pregnant, using birth control pills, and menopausal, dry eye symptoms are exacerbated by hormonal changes.
Lack of air circulation or frequent use of computers
Long-term exposure to places with no air circulation or dusty environments, as well as frequent work with high concentration, such as frequent computer use, can accelerate the evaporation of tears and cause dry eyes.
When facing the screen, it will accelerate the evaporation of tears | due to concentration Figureworm Creative
Prolonged medication
Dry eye is an adverse effect of certain medications, such as blood pressure medications and antidepressants. In addition, some eye drops containing preservative ingredients can lead to a decrease in tear secretion, and if the instructions are not followed, increasing the amount of medication or prolonging the medication time at will not only does not relieve the symptoms of dry eyes, but will aggravate the condition.
Sequelae of other eye diseases
Diseases such as trachoma and infectious conjunctivitis may cause atresia of the lacrimal glands, causing dry eyes.
These methods can relieve dry eyes
Mild dry eye can be relieved by lifestyle modification and the use of artificial tears, while moderate to severe dry eye patients need to seek the help of a professional doctor and treat it with medication or surgery.
Improve lifestyle
Contact lenses such as beauty pupils and contact lenses, although beautiful, can aggravate dry eye symptoms, and it is recommended that people with related symptoms reduce their use.
Eyeliner and mascara can block glands in the eyes, causing inflammation in the area around the eyes, and it is recommended to reduce the use of eye makeup.
Reduce screen time, after 1 to 2 hours of eye use, close your eyes and rest for a few minutes, or blink repeatedly for a few seconds, and avoid staying up late.
Air humidifiers can be used in dry rooms.
Contact lenses reduce oxygen supply to local cells, worsening dry eye symptoms | lantorobot.com
Dietary supplementation with vitamin A
Supplement foods rich in vitamin A, such as carrots and milk, in moderation. Lack of vitamin A, lacrimal gland epithelium is easy to keratinize, which will affect the secretion of tear fluid and dry the eyes.
Artificial tears
Dry eye can be relieved by artificial tears. Artificial tears improve ocular surface lubrication and increase humidity. At present, the artificial tears on the market do not contain preservatives and the minimum packaging is a one-time amount, which can not only reduce the damage of preservatives to the cornea, but also prevent the pollution of eye drops, which is an ideal artificial tear preparation.
If dry eye syndrome reaches moderate to severe and the above methods cannot be relieved, it is necessary to use anti-inflammatory drugs under the guidance of a doctor or undergo surgical treatment.
Eyes are the windows of the soul, I hope everyone can protect their eyes.
bibliography
[1] Li Meiyu, editor. Ophthalmology 2nd Edition. Peking University Medical Press.
[2]https://nei.nih.gov/health/dryeye/dryeye
[3]https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dry-eyes/
[4]https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863
Author: Li Xiaoqiu
Editors: odette, little towel, owl