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Summary of article:
Doctors remind that dry cold and prolonged use of 3C in autumn and winter can worsen dry eye syndrome. People should use warm compresses, get adequate sleep, and use preservative-free artificial tears to avoid long-term dependence on cold eye drops.
When the temperature drops rapidly, apart from the skin becoming dry, the eyes may also experience dryness and discomfort. Zhou Yide, an attending physician in the department of ophthalmology at Mackay Hospital in Taiwan, said climate change in autumn and winter may increase the symptoms of dry eye syndrome. It is recommended that the public moisturize their eyes, use moderate heat compresses and maintain adequate sleep. If dryness is present, preservative-free artificial tears may be used first to relieve dryness; However, prolonged use of cooling eye drops containing peppermint, vasoconstrictors and various compound ingredients should be avoided to avoid increasing eye strain.
Zhou Yide pointed out that dry eye syndrome used to be more common in older people, but as people spend more time using 3C products such as mobile phones and computers, it is becoming more common in young people. The main reason is that when you concentrate on watching the screen, the number of blinks will decrease, which will cause tears to be unable to be evenly distributed on the surface of the eyeball, and the evaporation rate will increase, causing dryness and discomfort.
Seasonal changes in autumn and winter can also aggravate dry eye syndrome. Zhou Yide said that the most basic way is to moisturize the eyes. When the weather gets cooler, you can also apply moderate heat to the eyes to improve eye swelling. Apart from this, the quality of sleep is also very important. If you often suffer from insomnia or lack of sleep, dry eye symptoms may become more pronounced the next day, creating a vicious cycle.
However, you should pay special attention to the ingredients when choosing eye drops. Zhou Yide reminded that some people like to use the cold eye drops commonly seen in Japan because their eyes feel cool after applying them. However, such products may contain peppermint, vasoconstrictors, and various compound ingredients, and some also contain preservatives. If used as artificial tears over a long period of time, they may have side effects and are not recommended as daily moisturizing products.
Zhou Yide said that if you need to use artificial tears frequently, it is recommended to give preference to single-tube disposable products that do not contain preservatives. Dry eye syndrome isn’t just one type. Tears are mainly composed of oil layer, water layer and mucus layer. Therefore, it can be divided into different conditions such as water deficiency type and oil deficiency type, and the treatment methods are also different.
If people’s dryness does not improve after resting, applying warm compresses, and using artificial tears, it is recommended to seek medical attention from an ophthalmologist. Zhou Yide suggested that you can analyze the tear condition through relevant examinations to confirm which layer has the problem, and then choose suitable artificial tears or treatment methods to avoid purchasing eye drops for long-term use, which will delay healing.
Summary FAQ
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Dry and cold weather in autumn and winter will accelerate the evaporation of tears. If combined with insufficient moisture of the eye surface, dryness, stinging and discomfort will easily occur. Doctors recommend moderate heat compresses and supplemental sleep to help reduce swelling and symptoms.
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When looking intently at the screen, the number of blinking will be significantly reduced, tears will not cover the surface of the eyeball evenly, and the evaporation rate will increase, which is more likely to cause dry eyes, fatigue, and foreign body sensation.
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Such products often contain peppermint, vasoconstrictors, mixed ingredients, or preservatives. Although they may provide a short-term cooling sensation, long-term use may lead to increased eye strain and side effects. If eye drops are frequently required, single artificial tears without preservatives should be preferred.
