Dry eye syndrome in summer, the cause of air conditioning?

Pixar Bay

In the hot and humid summer, it is common to always operate the air conditioning equipment indoors. In a space where the air conditioner and fan are turned on for a long time, even for a short time, the indoor air can feel dry. In an office space where it is difficult to turn the air conditioner on and off, the dryness reaches a serious level. In particular, it can be said that it is an environment that is very easy to cause ‘dry eye syndrome’ because there is a high possibility of viewing digital screens such as PCs or screens for a long time in an office space.

‘Dry eye syndrome’ occurs when the amount of tears produced is less than the tear film or when the tears dry quickly. It refers to a condition in which the eye’s basic lubricating oil, water, is insufficient.

Although dry eye disease itself causes inconvenience in daily life, if left untreated, even a small stimulus can easily damage the cornea, which can lead to fatal secondary infection or eye disease. Staring at a digital screen for a long time reduces the number of blinks and increases the risk of dry eye syndrome.

◇ Excessive use of air conditioners can cause dry eyes in summer

Among them, excessive use of air-conditioning equipment is a representative adverse condition that causes dry eye syndrome in summer. △ A dry room and △ wind from an air conditioner are fatal to dry eye syndrome. Therefore, rather than running the air conditioner all the time, it is necessary to adjust it by turning it off for a while if it feels a little cooler and then turning it on once more when the room temperature rises. If you can’t operate the air conditioner at will, it is advisable to open a window to ventilate the room and keep dry towels in the room or use a humidifier to maintain the humidity in the room.

Wind from ‘car vents’ is also fatal to ‘dry eye syndrome’. In particular, air conditioners in automobiles can instantly evaporate moisture from the eyes because the wind often hits the face directly. Adjust the indoor temperature by lowering the vent as much as possible so that the air conditioner wind does not touch your face, and turning it off halfway through. When you visit a restaurant or cafe and sit indoors, it is also recommended to avoid seats that are not directly blown by the air conditioner.

If your eyes get tired easily or feel stiff and sore, you may be suspicious of the early symptoms of dry eye syndrome. In addition to maintaining indoor humidity, it is recommended to consume nutrients and nutritional supplements that are good for the eyes, and to keep the eyes from drying out by dropping artificial tears that do not contain antibiotics. If the symptoms are severe enough to make daily life uncomfortable, visit an ophthalmologist for professional treatment.