Many people suffer from dry eye syndrome during the winter when the cold, dry wind blows. According to data released by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of dry eye patients per month last year was 306,113 in September, just before the cold wind started blowing, but increased to 349,695 in December. It is usually thought to be caused by dry air, but in fact, temperature has a greater impact. When the eyes are dry, increasing the temperature more effectively alleviates symptoms than increasing humidity.

 

Dry eye syndrome is an inflammatory condition caused by a deficiency of tears on the surface of the eye, which can lead to discomfort similar to having sand in the eyes and a feeling of dryness. If left untreated, it can cause the eyes to become stiff and uncomfortable. The eye's protective function diminishes, leading to frequent tearing even with minimal stimulation, and prolonged exposure to electronic devices can cause eyelid sticking or redness. If it worsens, it can develop into a chronic condition, leading to complications such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, and vision impairment. It significantly reduces the quality of daily life, making timely treatment very important.

When symptoms are mild, regularly applying artificial tears and increasing the temperature and humidity of the usual living space can easily improve the condition. Increasing the temperature is especially important, even more so than humidity. Professor Kim Dong-hyun's team at Korea University Anam Hospital conducted a study on 33 dry eye patients with an average age of 53.9 years to examine the effects of humidity and temperature on dry eye syndrome.

 

 

The research team measured the average humidity and temperature exposure of patients over a week and evaluated the following: ▲Dry eye symptom assessment questionnaire (SANDE) score, ▲Tear secretion, ▲Tear breakup time (TBUT), ▲Corneal staining score, and ▲Tear osmolarity. As a result, when humidity increased, only the ▲SANDE score improved, but when temperature increased, improvements were observed in ▲SANDE score, ▲corneal staining score, and ▲tear osmolarity. The research team stated, "Lower temperatures exacerbated the symptoms and signs of dry eye, and temperature had a more pronounced effect on dry eye than humidity."

 

Meanwhile, Professor Kim Dong-hyun received the 'Academic Research Award for Korean AbbVie Ophthalmologists' at the 2024 Korean Ophthalmological Society Autumn Conference for his research.

 

Drink enough water throughout the day.

② Contact lenses can cause dry eyes by removing moisture, so it is recommended to wear glasses whenever possible.

When reading a book or using a computer, take a short eye exercise or rest with your eyes closed once every hour.

④ Frequently ventilate indoor air to release polluted air.

⑤ Excessive heating can make the indoor environment extremely dry, so caution is advised.

⑥ Wash your hands before touching your eyes to prevent bacterial infection.

7. Refrain from prolonged use of computers and smartphones.

 

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Dry eye syndrome is really uncomfortable when it occurs.

It seems like I live on artificial tears.

 

If you follow the 7 good habits well

It seems like it would help with dry eye syndrome.