How to treat dry eyes?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Thai Hung - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital. Specialist II Nguyen Thai Hung has 13 years of experience as a doctor treating eye diseases.

Dry eyes make you feel uncomfortable, dry, heavy, uncontrollable tears.... The following article will help you get more information about dry eyes as well as appropriate treatment methods. .

When tears do their job well, they help the eyes get rid of dirt and debris to prevent infection. Healthy eyes will produce tears every day to keep them moist.
However, for some reason like illness, medication, or even age, your eyes produce less tears aka dry eye condition. This condition occurs when your eyes do not produce enough water to remove dust particles or lubricate the cornea.
Dry eyes are caused by lack of tears. In some cases, the cause of dry eyes is decreased tear production. In other cases, increased tear evaporation and an imbalance in tear composition are the causes of dry eyes.
Tears are formed by:
The outermost layer is a lipid layer (0.02% 0.1 micron thick) secreted by the Meinomian and Zeis glands. The middle layer (water) consists of the tear fraction as well as water-soluble proteins. The main and accessory routes make up this class. The inner layer is the mucous layer: produced by the goblet cells, the task of penetrating the cornea is the water layer You can notice dry eyes when some of the following signs appear:
Discomfort in the eyes Sensation like there's a foreign body in your eyes Itching eyes Red eyes Sensitive to light.

There are several causes of dry eyes, including:
Due to aging: all parts of the body will be affected by aging, including the eyes. According to some studies, about 30% of people aged 50 and over are likely to suffer from dry eyes. This rate is even higher for people over 65 years old. As we age, our ability to produce tears decreases or because the tear ducts become blocked by inflammation of the eye. Hormonal disorders: For most women, this is the main cause of dry eyes. Several factors change hormone levels, including birth control pills, women who are pregnant, and women entering menopause. These will reduce the amount of tears produced, leading to dry eyes. Supplementing with a combination of 2 hormones estrogen and progesterone with appropriate dosage is the treatment method for dry eyes in this case. Due to autoimmune diseases: The tear glands are attacked by the body's immune system when you have certain autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. Patients not only have dry eyes but also dry mouth. Not only is the tear volume reduced, but these autoimmune diseases also cause an imbalance in the main components that make up tears, including water, mucus and fatty layers, making dry eyes worse. and more difficult to treat. Using a computer for a long time: When using a computer, reading a book, watching TV for a long time, you will blink less. This long-term condition will make your eyes dry and uncomfortable, in addition to causing keratitis, uveitis, affecting vision. Due to surgery: The sensory nerves on the cornea can be damaged by some surgeries, especially Lasik to correct refractive errors (near, astigmatism, farsightedness, presbyopia) that cause tear production. reduced, causing dry eyes. Usually, this condition will last from 3 to 6 months, without proper eye care and treatment, dry eyes can last longer or progress to a chronic form. Constantly wearing contact lenses: Using contact lenses regularly will damage the protective tear layer of the eye, causing dry eyes. Therefore, contact lenses should only be worn if absolutely necessary and when worn, it is necessary to ensure cleanliness.

Side effects of medications: Some medications, such as diuretics, antihistamines, beta-blockers, tranquilizers, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, etc., can cause relief. tear secretion. Therefore, if you experience dry eyes, discomfort while taking these medicines, you need to consult with your doctor about changing the dose or changing to another medicine to reduce the effects of dry eyes caused by dry eyes. out. Due to the environment: Tears evaporate quickly when you are exposed to hot dry air. Eyes are easily irritated by sunlight, wind, dust, bacteria because the amount of tears secreted is not enough to compensate, causing discomfort, in the long run, it will lead to chronic dry eyes. Diabetes: This is a disease that can cause many complications for the body, including affecting the eyes. The nerve network in the cornea is likely to be damaged if the blood sugar level is high for a long time. This is what causes the production of tears to be affected. According to research, dry eye occurs in more than 50% of patients with diabetes. Allergies: One of the causes that interfere with the secretion of tears, causing dry eyes is allergies to pollen, drugs, food, and fur. You need to quickly stay away from allergens, if unfortunately encounter this situation, besides, you need to use allergy medicine, suitable eye drops to reduce discomfort.

For some people, treating dry eyes requires treatment for a medical problem that's causing the condition, or a doctor will need to prescribe special medication to help your eyes produce more water. more eyes.
In addition, you can treat dry eyes at home by the following methods:
Use warm towels to press on the eyes: Tears are formed from 3 layers, including the fat layer, the water layer and the mucus layer. Your eyes need all three parts to stay hydrated and healthy. Inflamed and flaky eyelids can clog the eyelid glands leading to dry eyes. To relieve eye irritation, use a clean washcloth dipped in warm water, wring it out and place it over your eyes, and close your eyes for at least a minute. Gently press on the edge of the eyelid. The heat helps loosen the clogged oil in the glands. Regularly wet the towel with warm water. You should do this every day to reduce inflammation, even if your eye condition gets better.

Cleaning your eyelids: Cleaning your eyelids, as well as the surrounding skin and hair, can help control blepharitis. Apply a small amount of baby shampoo or soap to your fingertips and gently massage the skin around your eyelashes with your eyes closed. Blink more: Staring at a computer will limit the number of times you blink per minute. So, try to blink often when you use the computer or watch TV or use the phone. Follow the 20/20 rule: after 20 minutes of using the computer, close your eyes for 20 seconds. Another simple tip to keep your eyes moist while using a computer: Place your monitor below eye level. You won't have to keep your eyes wide open, which can help slow the evaporation of tears between blinks.
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements: Salmon and tuna, or sardines, trout and mackerel all contain omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows that these healthy fats help the oil glands in your eyes function better, which can reduce irritation. Other foods that are naturally high in omega-3 fats include walnuts, vegetable oils (such as canola and soybean oils), and flaxseeds. You can also take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement in pill form. You should consult with your doctor before deciding to take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to make sure it won't affect any health problems or medications you're taking.
Drink enough water: all parts of your body need water to maintain and function, including your eyes. Drinking enough water helps keep your eyes moist. But don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water because by then, your body is already mildly dehydrated.
Instead, you should drink 8 to 10 glasses throughout the day. If you don't want to use water, you can choose other water-rich foods like rat or watermelon, except for drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine.
Another way to check if your body is getting enough water is by urine color. If your urine is colorless or pale yellow, your body is getting enough water.
Wear sunglasses: this can help protect your eyes from wind, sunlight, which cause tears to evaporate faster. In addition, you should also avoid blowing air from a hair dryer, air conditioner or fan towards your eyes.

Use a humidifier and air purifier: This helps to humidify the indoor air when the air is dry. Using an air purifier can also help prevent dry eyes. Eye Drops: Over-the-counter eye drops have properties similar to tears. There are many different brands. Some eye drops include a preservative, which makes them last longer, but using them regularly can cause eye irritation. If you have a need for consultation and examination at the Hospitals of the national health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.
Reference article source: webmd.com