Dry eye syndrome typically presents with symptoms such as dryness, a foreign body sensation, light sensitivity, blurred or fluctuating vision, burning pain, increased discharge, eye soreness, and itching. Additional symptoms may include headache, irritability, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Physical examination often reveals conjunctival congestion. Severe dry eye can significantly impair vision, affecting both work and daily life—and may even lead to blindness. As such, it should not be taken lightly.
If you happen to develop dry eye syndrome, how should you manage it?
1. During dry seasons or when using air conditioning, maintain a certain level of humidity indoors. Excessively dry eyes can easily lead to eye strain.
2. Optimize your work environment. Lighting should be neither too bright nor too dim—combine direct and indirect lighting so that the area surrounding your work is not significantly darker than the work itself. Proper lighting is effective in preventing eye fatigue.
3. Maintain a regular lifestyle and ensure adequate rest and sleep. This is the simplest way to relieve eye strain.
4. Eye drops can be used to alleviate eye fatigue, but only under a doctor’s guidance. Currently, about 90% of eye drops contain preservatives, which can damage cells on the ocular surface. Therefore, eye drops for fatigue should be used with caution.
5. Schedule regular physical exams to detect and treat underlying conditions early. If you experience eye discomfort, seek prompt evaluation from an ophthalmologist. Early detection and treatment of primary disorders—such as correcting refractive errors with glasses or addressing exophoria through extraocular muscle exercises—are essential.
6. Supplement with lutein.
Lutein is a key nutrient found in eye tissue with strong antioxidant properties. It promotes microcirculation in the eyes and helps relieve symptoms such as fatigue and dryness. Taking high-lutein products can effectively reduce eye strain.
For over 25 years, Stanford Chemicals has been a trusted provider of high-quality lutein (xanthophyll) and a wide range of other natural plant extracts.
7. People with eye fatigue should eat more foods rich in vitamins A and B, such as carrots, leeks, spinach, tomatoes, tofu, milk, eggs, animal liver, and lean meat.
8. Practice good eye hygiene daily.
Maintain proper posture and keep an appropriate distance from what you are viewing. Avoid prolonged, close-range, or overly detailed tasks. When using a computer for extended periods, ensure the screen is clear and set to a comfortable brightness. Keep your eyes about 60 cm from the screen, and position the display so you look slightly downward. Take a 5–10 minute break for every hour of work—look into the distance, relax, and blink frequently. These habits can significantly relieve eye strain.
What to Eat If You Have Dry Eye Syndrome
1. Eat more eye-nourishing foods
Such foods help maintain eye health and prevent myopia and other eye disorders.
Eye-nourishing foods include cow’s milk, goat’s milk, cream, millet, walnuts, carrots, spinach, napa cabbage, tomatoes, daylily, water spinach, goji berries, and a variety of fresh fruits.
In addition, chrysanthemum tea and persimmon leaf tea can help sharpen vision and prevent fine lines around the eyes. Chrysanthemum tea also absorbs radiation from screens. For those who spend long hours in front of a computer, drinking these teas daily may help reduce screen-related eye damage.
2. Eat more foods high in phospholipids
These foods serve as a key energy source for the brain.
Examples include egg yolks, shrimp, walnuts, peanuts, oysters, cuttlefish, silverfish, and herring—all of which are rich in phospholipids.
3. Eat more foods high in vitamins.
Vitamins play a role in nerve regulation and other functions.
Vegetables with high vitamin content include leeks, spinach, garlic sprouts, enoki mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, as well as various fruits.
4. Eat more high-protein foods.
Protein is the foundation of human cells.
Recommended options include lean pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, fish, and soy products. Computer users, in particular, should increase their intake of legumes and legume-based foods.