Dry Eye in Children
Tears are extremely important for keeping the eye healthy and our quality of vision. In humans, in some cases, tear production decreases or the quality of tears decreases. This condition is called dry eye. Tears clean out objects such as dust, smoke and particles that come into the eye from outside. It spreads completely to the upper level of the eye with the blinking movement, moisturizing this part and preventing irritation of the cornea.
Although dry eye is not a very common disease in children, cases have been increasing in recent years. One of the most important reasons for this is that technology has entered the lives of children and has become an unstoppable part of their lives. Digital screens are one of the most important reasons affecting dry eyes in children.
Causes of Dry Eye
Although there are many factors that cause dry eyes; The main reason is not enough oxygen reaching the eyes and the humidity level drops.
- Exposure to digital screens for a long time.
- Not blinking for a long time.
- Oxygen and humidity. Staying in environments with low air content for a long time.
- Exposure to cigarette smoke for a long time.
- Exposure to intense light.
- Exposure to air conditioning for a long time.
Dry Eye Symptoms
- Burning and stinging sensation in the eye.
- Itching of the eye surface.
- Long-term eye redness.
- Blurred vision and decreased vision quality.
Dry Eye Treatment
The purpose of dry eye treatment is to keep the eye moist. Therefore, factors that prevent the eye from moistening should be identified and eliminated. If you experience dry eyes due to dry environments, more humid environments should be preferred. If digital displays are used extensively, the rate of use should be reduced. As with all health-related issues, early diagnosis and treatment is important in dry eye. The earlier the diagnosis is made and precautions are taken, the easier and faster the treatment will be.
However, if dry eye has become chronic, artificial tears or surgical methods should be used. The main purpose of artificial tear drops is to increase the low level of moisture in the eye. There is no need for a surgical procedure, but it is the method used if the problem has become chronic.
In the surgical method, a punctal plug is placed in the tear duct. With this very simple process, the tears in the eye are ensured to remain in the eye for a longer time and thus the humidity of the environment is balanced.