Eyelid Twitching and Dry Eye Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Management
If you experience upper eyelid twitching, identify the cause through early detection and an eye exam.
With the increased use of digital devices, dry eye syndrome has become a common health issue for modern people. It is so prevalent among office workers that it ranks second among chronic diseases, and it occurs across all age groups. Of particular note is that dry eye syndrome can be accompanied by neurological symptoms such as upper eyelid twitching. Dryness, a feeling of foreign objects in the eye, and redness may not be simple signs of fatigue, and if these symptoms persist, dry eye syndrome should be suspected.
Ophthalmologists recommend paying attention to these symptoms from the beginning, rather than dismissing them as temporary issues. The eyes are very sensitive organs that are greatly affected by even small changes in the external environment. Therefore, if any abnormal signs appear in eye health, active management and treatment are necessary. Early detection and appropriate response play an important role in protecting eyesight and improving quality of life.
Reduced tear production and increased evaporation impair protective function.
To understand dry eye syndrome and its related symptoms, it is essential to understand the structure and function of tears. Tears are not just simple droplets but complex biological substances composed of three layers:
Mucin layer: Helps tears spread evenly over the surface of the eye.
Aqueous layer: Protects the eye and provides nutrients.
Lipid layer: Prevents tear evaporation.
Dry eye syndrome occurs when the balance of these three layers is disrupted, meaning that the surface of the eye is not adequately protected due to decreased tear production or increased evaporation rate. Therefore, treatment for dry eye syndrome should go beyond simply using artificial tears and aim to improve the overall quality of tears. Maintaining the normal function of each layer is essential for ensuring healthy eye condition.
Periodic breaks are essential during prolonged near work.
In modern society, the increase in dry eye syndrome and upper eyelid twitching is closely related to our living environment.
✅Concentration on electronic devices: Reduced blinking increases tear evaporation.
✅Indoor environment: Dryness due to air conditioning and heating exacerbates dry eye syndrome.
Ophthalmologists report that these environmental factors are major causes of increased dry eye syndrome even among young people. Therefore, it is advisable to appropriately adjust digital device usage time and practice the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Also, maintaining indoor humidity and ventilating frequently can be helpful. Prolonged near work increases eye fatigue, so periodic breaks are necessary.
Excessive reflex reaction of tear glands due to dry eye irritation.
One of the unusual symptoms of dry eye syndrome is excessive tearing, a paradoxical phenomenon that confuses many people. When the dry surface of the eye is irritated, the tear glands reflexively overreact, temporarily secreting a large amount of tears.
However, these tears are mostly composed of the aqueous layer and do not stay on the surface of the eye for long, quickly running down. Medically, this is called reflex tearing or epiphora. This shows that dry eye syndrome is not simply a problem of insufficient tear volume but a problem of tear quality. Therefore, treatment should focus not only on supplementing tears but also on restoring the function of the eye to produce healthy tears. Symptoms such as upper eyelid twitching can also be understood in this context.
Active treatment methods for moderate to severe dry eye syndrome.
Management of dry eye syndrome is carried out in various ways depending on the severity and cause of the symptoms. The most basic method is the use of artificial tears, but this alone may not provide fundamental improvement. More active treatments are needed for moderate to severe dry eye syndrome, such as medication to control inflammation of the ocular surface, tear conservation therapy using punctal plugs, and IPL treatment to improve meibomian gland function.
In particular, IPL treatment is effective because it can also improve blepharitis, which is often accompanied by dry eye syndrome. This treatment is less burdensome and has a short procedure time, so it has the advantage of being able to receive it without significant disruption to daily life. In addition, some patients experience skin care effects as well, resulting in high satisfaction. A comprehensive treatment approach may be necessary depending on the patient's condition.
Digital device control, indoor humidity, nutritional and fluid intake.
Dry eye syndrome is a chronic disease that requires continuous management rather than complete improvement. If management is stopped once symptoms improve, it can easily recur, so regular checkups and consistent management are important. In addition, if related symptoms such as upper eyelid twitching occur, it is necessary to find the cause through an eye exam rather than overlooking it as simple fatigue.
※ Lifestyle improvements for prevention
Control digital device usage time
Maintain adequate indoor humidity
Eat a balanced diet
In particular, consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and drinking plenty of fluids are helpful. Adequate sleep and stress management are also important factors for eye health. Dry eye syndrome can lead to serious problems such as vision loss or eye infections beyond simple discomfort, so it is important to pay attention to early symptoms and actively respond.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/iconiconeye/224011641452
No comments yet.
