Dry eye syndrome occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears to maintain normal physiological functions or when tears evaporate too quickly. Tears lubricate the ocular surface and protect eyes from irritants that can cause infection or corneal damage. Untreated dry eye can increase the risk of complications.

Dry eye directly affects visual function, with blurred vision and light sensitivity being the most common issues.

Blurred vision is a common symptom for individuals with dry eye, sometimes accompanied by glare or halos around lights at night. This condition relates to damage on the eye's front surface, particularly the cornea. Normally, a stable tear film covers the cornea, ensuring clear vision. However, with dry eye, this tear film becomes unstable and evaporates quickly. This leads to vision that is clear immediately after blinking but quickly blurs again, causing eye strain and difficulty concentrating. Chronic dry eye can result in moderate to severe blurred vision.

When the cornea lacks sufficient lubrication, the eyes become more sensitive to light, a condition known as photophobia. Irritation of the ocular surface and increased sensitivity of the eye's nerves make light exposure more uncomfortable.

Other signs of dry eye include: a burning or itchy sensation, redness, a gritty feeling as if sand or a foreign object is in the eye, difficulty driving at night, reflex tearing due to irritation, heavy eyelids, or difficulty opening the eyes. To alleviate dry eye, individuals should regularly use lubricating eye drops as prescribed by a doctor, apply warm compresses to the eye area for 5-10 minutes, and follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object 6 meters away for 20 seconds.

Other supportive measures include using a humidifier, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids, and ensuring adequate water intake to maintain hydration, protect the ocular surface, and support tear gland function.

Patients should seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or if eye pain and irritation affect daily life. Doctors diagnose dry eye through an eye examination using specialized drops to assess the ocular surface. A pupil dilation exam may also be performed to comprehensively check the eye and identify underlying causes.

Bao Bao (According to Healthline)