You may also have the same "terminal disease" as Gao Qiqiang in "The Storm".

Have you watched "Kuang Bi" recently? Gao Qiqiang, played by Zhang Songwen, grows from a kind-hearted fishmonger to a ruthless gangster. The CP between him and his sister-in-law Chen Shuting is also very popular.

In the latest episode, Gao Qiqiang claimed that he had a terminal illness in order to see Chen Shuting for the last time.

What terminal illness? Dry eyes … Gao Qiqiang: “There is currently no medicine that can cure it. I have to use eye drops all the time.”

If you have swollen eyes, dry eyes, tearing when exposed to wind, or even chronic dry eyes, you may have the same "incurable disease" as Gao Qiqiang. In recent years, the incidence of dry eyes has been on the rise, and the number of people visiting ophthalmologists has also increased. According to statistics, about 17% of people in China suffer from dry eyes.

So many people have dry eyes? I asked myself the same question as Chen Shuting:

The surface of the eye has a protective layer of liquid

There is a layer of liquid on the surface of the human eye, called the tear film . The tear film has three layers, from the outside to the inside, namely the lipid layer, the water layer, and the mucus layer. They cover the surface of the eye, play a role in lubrication and moisturizing, and can also provide nutrition for the ocular surface tissue.

Every time we blink, a new layer of liquid forms on the surface of the eye to maintain the integrity of the tear film. If we do not blink and allow the liquid in the tear film to evaporate, the eye surface will lose its protective layer and we will feel sore eyes .

The three-layer structure of the tear film | vmcli.com

Normally, the integrity of the tear film can be maintained for 15-45 seconds , which is higher than the blinking frequency of 10-15 times per minute when we are relaxed. However, the newly formed tear film of patients with dry eyes is often unstable and breaks quickly , so they need more blinks to maintain the integrity of the tear film.

Many reasons can cause a decrease in tear film secretion or an increase in evaporation. If the stability of the tear film is reduced as a result, dry eyes may be caused.

Do you have these symptoms too?

In addition to dry eyes, people with dry eyes often have a range of other symptoms:

Sensitivity to light , and difficulty opening eyes when getting up in the morning;

Often feel that the eyelids are heavy or there is something in the eye;

Redness or burning sensation in the eyes;

Eyes get tired easily and become blurry, making it difficult to concentrate on study or work;

It is easy to cry in the wind .

The liquid that flows out acutely in the wind is unbalanced in composition compared to the normal tear film liquid and cannot effectively relieve dryness symptoms | Tuchong Creative

Dry eyes generally do not cause blindness, but it can significantly reduce the quality of life. Long-term dry eyes can easily develop into dry eyes , so it needs to be taken seriously.

These factors increase the risk of dry eye disease

The cause of dry eye syndrome is relatively complex, and the related pathogenesis has not yet been fully understood, but population studies have confirmed that the following factors increase the risk of dry eye syndrome.

Increasing age

Dry eye syndrome is more common in people over 40 years old, because the secretion of tears gradually weakens with age. In recent years, with the popularization of electronic products and corneal contact lenses, the number of young patients has increased.

female

Women are more susceptible to dry eyes. Symptoms of dry eyes can be aggravated by hormonal changes during pregnancy, birth control pill use, and menopause.

Poor air circulation or frequent computer use

Staying in a poorly ventilated place or dusty environment for a long time, as well as frequently doing work that requires high concentration, such as frequent computer use, can accelerate the evaporation of tears and cause dry eyes.

When you look at the screen, your tears evaporate faster because you are concentrating | Tuchong Creative

Long-term medication

Dry eyes are an adverse reaction to certain drugs, such as antihypertensive drugs and antidepressants . In addition, some eye drops containing preservatives can lead to reduced tear secretion. If you do not follow the instructions and arbitrarily increase the dosage or extend the duration of medication, it will not only fail to relieve dry eye symptoms, but will make the condition worse.

Sequelae of other eye diseases

For example, diseases such as trachoma and infectious conjunctivitis may cause tear gland atresia and lead to dry eyes.

These methods can relieve dry eyes

Mild dry eyes can be relieved by improving lifestyle and using artificial tears. Patients with moderate to severe dry eyes need to seek help from a professional doctor and be treated with medication or surgery.

Improve your lifestyle

Although cosmetic contact lenses, contact lenses and other corneal contact lenses are beautiful, they can aggravate dry eye symptoms. People with related symptoms are advised to reduce their use .

Eyeliner and mascara can block the glands in the eyes and cause inflammation in the area around the eyes. It is recommended to reduce the use of eye makeup .

Reduce the time you spend in front of the screen . After using your eyes for 1 to 2 hours, close your eyes and rest for a few minutes, or blink repeatedly for a few seconds, and avoid staying up late.

You can use an air humidifier in rooms with dry air.

Contact lenses can reduce oxygen supply to local cells and aggravate dry eye symptoms | lantorobot.com

Dietary supplementation with vitamin A

Supplement foods rich in vitamin A in moderation, such as carrots, milk, etc. Lack of vitamin A will easily cause keratinization of the lacrimal gland epithelium, which will affect the secretion of tears and make the eyes dry.

Artificial tears

Dry eye syndrome can be relieved by artificial tears. Artificial tears can improve the lubrication of the ocular surface and increase humidity . Currently available artificial tears are preservative-free and have a minimum package size of one-time use. This can reduce the damage of preservatives to the cornea and prevent contamination of eye drops, making them ideal artificial tear preparations.

If dry eye syndrome reaches moderate to severe levels and the above methods cannot relieve it, you should use anti-inflammatory drugs under the guidance of a doctor or undergo surgical treatment .

Eyes are the windows to the soul. I hope everyone can protect their eyes.

References

[1] Li Meiyu, ed. 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

Editor: odette, small towel, Owl