Dry Eye

The increased use of masks and remote working has led to an increase in individuals with dry eyes.
People who spend a lot of time on their computers and smartphones may find that their eyes easily become tired.
This article can answer the following questions.

・I may not have dry eye because I can easily move to tears
・What happens when dry eyes are left untreated?
・Is there a good solution for dry eyes?

And describes the following topics.

・What is dry eye
・Symptoms and causes
・Treatments and daily measures

If you feel any bad conditions with your eyes especially thirst after long-time work and/or study, please refer to this article.

Dry eye is a disease that occurs when there is insufficient tear production or when tears are not evenly distributed over the surface of the eye.
Lack of tears that serve as eye protection can easily damage the surface of the eye. It can also cause eye fatigue and may lead to symptoms such as poor vision.
There are various causes of dry eyes, but the number of patients with dry eyes has been on the rise recently, mainly due to the effects of

・Long-time use of air conditioners
・Long-time use of computers and/or smartphone
・Increasing the number of people wearing contact lenses

People who exhibit symptoms of dry eye, which is also known as a lifestyle-related eye disease, should see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible for appropriate treatment.

The three-layered structure: oil, water, and mucin

Tears, which protect the eye from foreign substances and bacteria, are composed of three layers: oil, water and mucin.

The outermost layer is the “oil layer” and its role is to prevent water from evaporating.
The ‘water’ layer nourishes the cornea and conjunctiva.
The “mucin layer” is closest to the eye and is responsible for stabilizing the entire tear layer.
Blinking can help to moisten the surface of the eye, but if there are insufficient tears or if they are susceptible to evaporation, the surface of the eye may dry quickly, exposing the sensitive cornea.

Dry eye has many symptoms in addition to dryness and fatigue of the eye.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of dry eye.

The feeling of eye fatigue

When the tears decrease, your eyes are more likely to feel tired.

If you experience eye fatigue, you may have dry eyes even if it does not feel dry on a surface level. We recommend that you see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible instead of coming to the conclusion that it is “just” fatigue.

Dry eyes and discomfort

As people spend more time using smartphones and computers, the number of times they blink is said to decrease. If you blink less, you may experience “dryness” due to insufficient tear distribution on the surface of the eye.

Objects appear blurry

Even if one’s visual acuity is good originally, “blurred vision” is a typical symptom of dry eyes.

When tear secretion is unstable, surroundings can appear hazy. In recent years, there have been reports of reduced visual acuity due to dry eyes.

Dry eye, also known as “lifestyle-related eye disease,” is believed to be largely caused by environmental factors. Other contributing factors may be age, illness, lifestyle.
Let’s look at each of these factors in more detail.

Influence of external factors

Concentrating on a computer or smartphone screen reduces the number of times you blink, causing the surface of the eye to dry out easily. Your eyes may also dry out after a long-time in a heated and/or air-conditioned room.
Long-time wear of contact lenses may also cause dry eye.
It is also known that the sympathetic nervous system, which works when we are tense, suppresses tear secretion, which means that dry eyes are more likely to occur under stressful conditions.

The influence of lifestyle

Lifestyle has also been noted as possible causes of dry eyes. lifestyle factors such as:

• Nocturnal lifestyle
• Dietary lifestyle
• Lack of exercise

may contribute to dry eye.

Tear production tends to be lower at night than during the day. It is also known that artificial light, such as fluorescent lamps used at night, places a greater burden on the eyes than natural light.

Age-related changes in tears

The amount of tears produced decreases with age, making your eyes more likely to dry out. Changes in the quality of tears and a decrease in oil content with age are also said to contribute to eye dryness.
Thus, aging is also a cause of dry eyes.

An influence of immunological diseases

In some cases, dry eyes are caused by abnormalities in the lacrimal gland due to diseases in which the immune system mistakenly attacks itself, such as Sjogren’s syndrome.
The disease is more common in middle-aged women and is characterized by dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose as well as the eyes.

In addition to checking for symptoms such as dry, sore, or blurry eyes, a dry eye examination includes tests listed in the table below.

This is to check for a decrease in the quantity or quality of tears and the condition of the surface of the eye. It only takes a relatively short amount of time and the exam is normally not uncomfortable or painful.

The main treatments for dry eyes include ophthalmic solutions and tear plugs, which plug the tear outlet.

Continued use of prescribed eye drops

Eye drops such as those listed below are used in case of mild dry eye symptoms:

Typical ophthalmic drops include:

• Additional tear fluid (artificial tears)
• Drops that stabilize tear fluid and ameliorate corneal disorders
• To promote secretion of mucin or lacrimal fluid

Punctal plug facilitates accumulation of tears

The tear outlet is called puncta. A plug (punctal plug) in the lacrimal duct suppresses tear drainage and allows tears to accumulate on the surface of the eye.

Punctal plug therapy has recently been covered by medical insurance. Select a plug that matches the size of your puncta from a variety of sizes and designs.

If you feel that your eyes are dry or are suffering from fatigue, it’s important to see an ophthalmologist. However, there are things that can be addressed and improved in daily life to prevent dry eye or prevent it from getting worse.
Let’s review our daily habits.

Consciously blink more

Concentrating on a smartphone or computer screen not only reduces the number of blinks, and it is also often said that you’re not closing your eyes properly. It is important to consciously close your eyes and encourage tears to flow. Also, as a guide, take your eyes away from the screen for about 2 to 3 minutes out of every 30 minutes, or do other work, to ensure that your eyes are well rested.

Place screen below eye level

When the line of sight is directed upwards, tears tend to dry out as they tend to evaporate more easily. With your eyes facing down, you will avoid excessive eye opening, so adjust the height of your screen to prevent tear evaporation.

Make settings more pleasant to the eye

A computer or smartphone display that is too bright or has a small character size can overly strain your eyes. Adjust the text to an appropriate brightness setting and increase the size of the font to make it easier to read without squinting.

Use a humidifier

To prevent the eyes from drying out due to dry air, especially in winter when the room tends to become dry, it is advisable to adjust the humidity in the room by placing a humidifier, wet towels, or a bucket of hot water in the room. The reference value for humidity is 50 to 60%.
It is also effective to change the direction of the air flow and your working position so that the air from the air conditioner does not directly hit your eyes.

Avoid staying up too late

Good sleep helps control tears and regulate the autonomic nervous system. Tear production also decreases at night, so make sure you have time to rest and take care of your eyes.

Avoid wearing contact lenses for an extended long-time

Contact lenses should be used in accordance with the care instructions given by your ophthalmologist, as well as the expiration date and wearing time. Excessive continuous wear can cause damage and fatigue to your eyes.
In particular, at night, we recommend using eye drops or similar to prevent drying and change to glasses from the contact lenses.

Warm eyes with a steaming towel

Applying a steamed towel to the eye area is reportedly an effective method of dealing with dry eyes because it improves the infarction of the meibomian glands and facilitates the secretion of oil that protects the corneal surface.
The warming effect helps blood circulation and relaxes muscles. It is also an effective way to rest your eyes.

Summary

Without treatment, dry eye can cause reduced visual acuity and corneal infection.
Eye fatigue from dry eyes can eventually lead to headaches, shoulder soreness and loss of concentration. If you experience symptoms such as dryness or blurred vision in your eyes, we recommend that you visit an ophthalmologist as soon as possible to begin treatment.
To prevent symptoms from becoming severe, it is important to have appropriate treatment, including eye drops. Also, try to maintain a eye-friendly lifestyle every day.