Beware of dry eye syndrome if your eyes are watering for no apparent reason when the cold wind blows.
Often feelEye fatigueA feeling of something stuck in your eye may be a sign of dry eye syndrome. Ophthalmologist Wu Liqi states that dry eye syndrome is common in autumn and winter.Eye problemsIn autumn and winter, the lower air humidity, coupled with cold winds, accelerates tear evaporation, leading to dry eye syndrome. Patients with mild symptoms can use artificial tears at home; however, if symptoms do not improve, medical treatment may be necessary.
Wu Liqi pointed out that the causes of dry eye syndrome fall into two categories: insufficient tear secretion and excessive tear evaporation, with more patients falling into the latter category. These patients often have impaired meibomian gland function around the eyelids, leading to increased oiliness and viscosity of the secreted tears, resulting in dry eye.glandular blockageIn addition, people who spend long periods of time focusing on their eyes, leading to a reduced blinking frequency, such as office workers and those who use mobile phones for extended periods, are also prone to premature tear evaporation. Those with insufficient tear production include postmenopausal women and individuals who require medications such as serotonin or oral antihistamines.
In addition to experiencing burning sensations, a foreign body feeling in the eyes, and eye fatigue, people with dry eye syndrome may also experience temporary blurred vision and excessive tearing. Wu Liqi explained that dry eye patients experience sudden tearing because tears evaporate too quickly, prompting the brain to produce more tears. Combined with inflammation of the meibomian glands, this stimulates the eyes to tear. He cautioned that if red veins appear in the whites of the eyes, it may indicate mild inflammation of the ocular surface. Ignoring this could lead to corneal abrasion or inflammation, causing permanent vision damage.
Regarding treatment, Wu Liqi stated that the treatment plan depends on the severity of the patient's dry eye syndrome. For mild dry eye, patients can purchase artificial tears for self-care. However, it's important to note that if steroid-containing eye drops are purchased, long-term use may lead to glaucoma. He further explained that if symptoms do not improve after two weeks of using artificial tears, it's necessary to consult a doctor. Doctors will usually prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops, including steroid eye drops. If symptoms still do not improve, long-term use of cyclosporine eye drops may be necessary.
In addition, patients can also consider surgery to improve dry eye symptoms. For cases of insufficient tear production, a lacrimal duct plugging surgery can be performed. The doctor will insert a silicone "lacrimal canaliculus plug" into the lacrimal duct, allowing tears to stay in the eye socket for a longer time. The lacrimal canaliculus plug can be removed by the doctor after the treatment is completed.
Another surgical procedure is the LipiFlow thermal pulsation system, which can be used to treat dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. LipiFlow works by pulsating to promote oil secretion, dissolving the oil clogging the meibomian glands and thus reducing tear evaporation.
