Speaking about the recent incidence of dry eye, which is significantly affected by screen addiction, Prof. Dr. Arzu Taşkıran Çömez said, “While it used to be seen only in people after a certain age, we now see a dry eye that is seen like epidemics even in children. Currently, we see signs of dry eye in 60-70 percent of patients, we are all candidates for dry eye disease with aging. It is also related to the climate, I think it is more related to things like screens and phones.”
In recent years, problems related to dry eyes occur due to the intensive use of technological devices for work or various reasons, and the formation of screen addiction from a young age. While dryness in the eyes causes problems that reduce the quality of life such as burning, stinging sensation, itching and redness, experts warn. Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Arıcı, Faculty Member of Istanbul University- Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital Department of Ophthalmology Education Officer Prof. Dr. Arzu Taşkıran Çömez also spoke about dryness in the eyes and its effects. Prof. Dr. Arıcı and Prof. Dr. Çömez stated that interrupting blinking while looking at the computer screen for a long time increases the evaporation of tears and causes the problem of 'dry eyes' and advised citizens.
“The most important group; heavy dry eyes”
Stating that dry eye is a condition that affects many people, Ophthalmologist Prof. Dr. Ceyhun Arıcı said, “Dry eye has actually been around for a long time, but since we live in the age of technology, we can basically divide it into 2 types with the exposure of our children to tablets, phones and computers. 1 lack of production, inadequate production of tears, 2 inadequate protection of what is produced. Why dry eye is important; tears are one of the most important fluids in the human body, containing over 150 proteins. Therefore, when it falls below a certain amount, its value is then understood. It is a material that provides protection against bacteria and viruses as well as defense and nutrition. Dry eye can be divided into severe, moderate and mild. The most important group here; severe dry eyes. It causes pain, burning, stinging, sandblasting and a decrease in visual comfort. Light rays first go to our tear gland and then through our cornea to our visual center. Let's imagine driving a car in rainy weather without a windshield wiper, how light is reflected and scattered, thus the comfort of vision is affected. Stinging, burning, all sleep comfort is also affected, waking the person up at night, unfortunately it can affect the whole quality of life. When we are engaged in concentrated work, our blink reflexes decrease, and the longer the eye remains open, the more it can be lost through evaporation. If we are concentrating for 20 minutes, we should lift our head and look away or close our eyes for 20 seconds. The environment we are in should ideally be above 40 percent room temperature and humidity. In central systems such as shopping malls in dry air, especially those with medium-heavy dry eye feel it directly. The tables we call heavy, medium heavy are more specific conditions. The most common symptom we see is symptomatic dry eyes; wounds may develop on the cornea, especially the transparent tissue of the eye, and these open wounds create a ground for infection. We need to make the necessary treatment and recommendations in the early period. First, we recommend what the person should do as a lifestyle. Then, depending on the medical picture, drip treatments, in severe cases, sometimes systemic, oral treatments to try to produce tears.”
“We see dry eye like epidemics even in children”
Eye Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Arzu Taşkıran Çömez, who said that there are many more people coming with dry eye complaints than in the past, said, “The disease we call dry eye is quite intense. While it used to be seen only in people after a certain age, we now see a dry eye that is seen like epidemics even in children. The most important thing here; time, reducing the time, taking a break or looking at the screen after using artificial tears, there are also glasses that cut the light of the screen. We can reduce these problems with such auxiliary tools. Currently, we see signs of dry eye in almost 60-70 percent of patients. Of course, it is also related to the climate, I think it is more related to things like screens and phones. We should not work for too long, the screen should be at our own eye level. Dry eye is often caused by environmental factors. Your environment, your profession, all of these can be a factor. Age is one of the most important factors, being a woman, it can be seen more frequently in women after menopause. It may also be one of the first signs of some systemic diseases. For example; rheumatologic diseases can also occur as a symptom of diseases we call collagen tissue diseases, but with aging, we are all candidates for dry eye disease. In addition, various professions, environments exposed to heat, working in air-conditioned environments can have an effect. Even if there is no complaint, people should undergo an eye examination once a year, this may be a little more frequent in children. We observe that myopia increases very much after screen exposure, especially in children. It is estimated that almost half of the world's population will be myopic by 2050. It is necessary to reduce the duration of close work in children. For example; after a maximum of 20 minutes, they should stop working close and rest their eyes by looking away.”
İHA Haber Kodu: 20241003AW300216