(Dry Eye) When your eyes are dry… Increase this more than humidity.

Many people complain of dry eye during the cold, dry winter months. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of patients with dry eye syndrome last year was 306,113 in September, just before the cold winds began to blow, but it increased to 349,695 in December. While this is often attributed to the dry air, the temperature actually plays a greater role. When dry eyes are present, increasing the temperature is more effective than increasing the humidity to improve symptoms.

 

Dry eye is an inflammatory condition caused by a lack of tears on the surface of the eye. If left untreated, it can leave the eyes feeling dry and uncomfortable, as if they have sand in them. The eye's protective function is impaired, leading to frequent tears even with minimal stimulation. Prolonged exposure to electronic devices can also cause eyelids to become sticky or bloodshot. If left untreated, it can develop into a chronic condition, leading to complications such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, and vision loss. Because it can significantly impact the quality of daily life, prompt treatment is crucial.

In mild cases, symptoms can be easily improved by regularly applying artificial tears and increasing the temperature and humidity in your living space. Increasing temperature is more important 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 to determine the effects of humidity and temperature on dry eye.

 

 

The research team measured the average humidity and temperature values ​​to which the patients were exposed for one week, and evaluated ▲SANDE score ▲tear secretion ▲tear film break-up time (TBUT) ▲ocular staining score ▲tear osmolarity. As a result, when the humidity increased, only ▲SANDE score improved, but when the temperature increased, ▲SANDE score ▲ocular staining score ▲tear osmolarity were confirmed to improve in three factors. The research team said, "The lower the temperature, the more severe the symptoms and signs of dry eye, and the effect of temperature on dry eye was more prominent than humidity."

 

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

 

① Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

② Contact lenses take away moisture and cause dry eyes, so wear glasses if possible.

③ When reading a book or using a computer, do light eye exercises or close your eyes and rest once an hour.

④ Ventilate indoor air frequently to expel polluted air.

⑤ Be careful as excessive heating can make the indoor environment extremely dry.

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

⑦ Avoid using computers and smartphones for long periods of time.

 

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It's really uncomfortable when you have dry eyes.

Artificial tears seem to be sweet

 

If you keep these 7 habits well,

It seems like it would help with dry eyes.