Three types of conditions that cause dry and itchy eyes

Nowadays, there are many people who face computers or mobile phones continuously for more than ten hours a day. Long-term exposure to screens will cause the eyes to become dry, itchy and uncomfortable. If this discomfort symptom is only temporary, it can be improved by closing the eyes and resting or reducing eye use. If it lasts for a long time and occurs frequently, then it needs to be taken seriously.

The surface of the normal eyeball is covered with a tear film, which is formed by what we usually call tears. A stable tear film is the basis for maintaining the moist surface of the eyeball and preventing it from drying out. Therefore, any abnormality in the production, distribution, evaporation and clearance of tears can lead to dry eyes and cause eye discomfort. In addition to dry eyes, there may also be a foreign body sensation in the eyes, pain and itching, photophobia, red eyes, blurred vision, and visual fatigue. Dry eyes can be caused by two reasons: insufficient tear production and increased tear evaporation due to insufficient blinking.

It can also be divided into the following three types:

1. Conjunctival epithelial sicca: This is one of the ocular manifestations of vitamin A deficiency. The main cause of vitamin A deficiency is the high consumption of vitamin A in the body and the low intake. It is more common in infants and young children who are improperly fed with artificial feeding, and is very likely to occur when they have poor absorption or suffer from consumptive dysentery such as measles, pneumonia, disease, diarrhea, etc. In adults, it is more common in patients with advanced liver cancer, cirrhosis and long-term chronic digestive tract diseases.

2. Substantial conjunctival and keratitis sicca: It is caused by extensive scarring of the palpebral conjunctiva and bulbar conjunctiva, which destroys the secretory glands of the conjunctiva itself and even the lacrimal glands and lacrimal ducts. Such as severe trachoma, extensive thermal or chemical burns, severe chronic conjunctivitis, pemphigoid, etc.

3. Oral-ocular dryness-arthritis syndrome (or "dry eye syndrome"): This is a disease with unclear etiology. In recent years, it has been discovered that it may be caused by abnormalities in the innate immune system. The main manifestations are keratoconjunctivitis sicca, dry mouth, and complicated connective tissue diseases (the most common is rheumatoid arthritis).