Note! Can wearing a mask for a long time also cause dry eyes?

Mondo Health Updated on 2024-02-29

We all know that wearing a mask is an important means of preventing the spread of the virus. However, wearing a mask for a long time caused dry eyesWhat's going on?

A study titled "Face Mask-associated Ocular Irritation and Dryness" in the American journal Ophthalmology and ** confirmed that long-term wearing of a mask may cause dry eye syndrome, and the longer you wear it, the more obvious the dry eye symptoms will be.

This type of dry eye is called "mask-associated dry eye", or mask-associated dry eye, abbreviated as made.

According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), dry eye occurs when there is a problem with any part of the tissue of the tear film, manifesting as insufficient or poor quality of tears.

Dry eye syndrome can cause many uncomfortable symptoms, including dry itching, foreign body sensation, burning sensation, accompanied by photophobia, blurred vision, and fluctuating vision.

Why does wearing a mask for a long time trigger dry eyes?

Normally, breathing through the nose or mouth, the exhaled air is sprayed directly forward and does not affect the eyes, while the mask changes the direction of the gas and is directed to the eye spray above the mask, and this increased airflow accelerates the evaporation of the tear film, causing irritation of the surface of the eye, resulting in dryness or inflammation.

At the same time, even if you use a tape mask with better sealing to prevent air from flowing out of the mask, it can cause irritation to the cornea and cause eye discomfort. This is due to the adhesive tape sticking to the **, which will affect the normal working of the lower eyelids, and the incomplete closure of the eyelids will occur, which will reduce the secretion of tears, resulting in dry eyes.

How to avoid "mask dry eyes"?

The choice of mask is important

It is recommended not to choose a mask with poor breathability and heavy such as N95 for daily travel, and it is advisable to wear a mask with a bendable metal strip to make the top of the mask fit more closely with the bridge of the nose and face, and reduce the amount of breathing gas blowing from the top of the mask to the eyes.

Pay attention to the quality of the mask

When purchasing, it is necessary to pay attention to identification, many inferior products are thinner or have the smell of industrial materials, and cannot achieve the anti-virus effect, so you should choose a regular brand to buy.

Be mindful of when you wear your mask

The mask should also be worn for a moderate period of time, and the mask should be removed every few hours to allow the eyes to rest and restore the tear film structure and function on the surface of the eyeball.

Make a knot in the mask cord

You can tie a small knot on the inside of the lanyard on both sides of the disposable mask, and fold the raised parts on both sides of the mask inward after wearing the mask.

This not only increases the gap for easier breathing, but also reduces the stuffiness of the mask.

Always remind yourself to blink more

When using electronic products, reading, studying, or wearing a mask on daily travel, you should consciously "urge" yourself to blink more and increase blinking behavior, which will promote tear secretion and moisturize the eyes, which is an effective way to prevent or alleviate dry eye syndrome.

Use artificial tears

Artificial tears are eye drops made that mimic the composition of human tears, which can moisturize the eyes.

You can use artificial tears under the guidance of a doctor to comprehensively assess the condition of your eyes and check for other ophthalmic elements.

Dry eyes

end

Related Pages