Symptoms, causes, and prevention of dry eye syndrome that troubled me for a while

Dry eye syndrome is a condition characterized by a burning sensation and a feeling of foreign objects in the eyes, especially worsened by the harsh winter wind, leading to excessive tearing.

 

Dry eye syndrome mainly occurs due to decreased secretion of normal tears. Visiting a hospital for anti-inflammatory treatment and maintaining proper daily habits can help prevent it.

 

I have been experiencing eye discomfort due to dry eye syndrome for several years.

In my case, the reason was personal because I have used contact lenses for my entire life. Wearing lenses tends to make it difficult for oxygen to pass through to the eyes, which naturally causes dryness.

I had to frequently use artificial tears, but I didn't follow that properly and used contact lenses daily because it was convenient. As a result, I often experienced inflammation symptoms such as conjunctivitis or styes.

 

The main symptoms were a foreign body sensation as if something was inside the eye, along with discomfort, and the eyes felt sore. When exposed to wind, tears would flow continuously and redness would recur repeatedly.

 

I was so uncomfortable with dry eye syndrome that I visited an ophthalmologist, who prescribed anti-inflammatory eye drops and artificial tears. So, I almost made artificial tears a part of my daily life.

 

Currently, the symptoms of dry eye syndrome do not cause enough discomfort to be felt spontaneously.

My primary efforts to address dry eye syndrome are to wear contact lenses only when absolutely necessary, using disposable lenses that are discarded after one day, and to always wear glasses in daily life.

Switching from using regular contact lenses that last for several months to hygienic disposable lenses for eye health was very effective.

Disposable lenses are used when necessary for important appointments, but usually, glasses are worn. Since then, not only have the symptoms of dry eyes improved, but also the styes that would inevitably recur within a few months no longer appear. This means that inflammation does not occur easily.

 

And to prevent dry eye syndrome, I regularly use artificial tears and always try to maintain humidity at 60% by using a humidifier.

Living on a high floor means the basic humidity is low and it is always dry, so I can definitely feel how important proper humidity is for dry eye syndrome. I highly recommend using a humidifier in daily life.

 

In addition, avoid prolonged computer work, gaming, or reading that can cause eye fatigue. Especially with smartphone use, our eyes are always tired, so giving our eyes rest is more important than anything else.

 

If your symptoms are severe, please be sure to visit an ophthalmologist, and by maintaining proper lifestyle habits, I hope it will help prevent dry eye syndrome.