Have you ever stepped out of your heavily air-conditioned office in Central and felt a sudden stinging, gritty sensation in your eyes? You are not alone. Dry Eye Syndrome is so ubiquitous in Hong Kong that we often brush it off as merely the side effect of a hard day's work. However, this irritating condition is quietly compromising our quality of life and visual health.

您是否曾經步出中環冷氣強勁的辦公室後，眼睛突然感到刺痛和乾澀？您並不孤單。乾眼症在香港非常普遍，以至於我們經常將其視為辛勤工作後的副作用。然而，這種令人困擾的疾病正在悄悄地損害我們的生活質素和視力健康。

Here is a comprehensive look at why Dry Eye Syndrome happens, how to identify and manage it, and why it has become a pressing issue for the people of Hong Kong.

以下我們將全面探討乾眼症的成因、識別和管理方法，以及為什麼它會成為香港人迫切需要關注的議題。

What is Dry Eye Syndrome and Why Does It Happen?
什麼是乾眼症？為什麼會發生？

Every time you blink, a tear film spreads over the surface of your eyes to keep them smooth, clear, and protected. This film consists of three layers: fatty oils (lipids), watery fluid (aqueous), and mucus. Dry Eye Syndrome occurs when this complex tear production process is disrupted—either your eyes do not produce enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly.¹

每次您眨眼時，一層淚膜會覆蓋在眼球表面，使其保持平滑、清晰和受到保護。這層淚膜由三層組成：脂質層（油脂）、水液層（水分）和黏液層。當這個複雜的淚液分泌過程受到破壞——無論是眼睛沒有分泌足夠的淚水，還是淚水蒸發得太快——就會引發乾眼症。¹

This disruption is generally driven by several factors: / 這種破壞通常由以下幾個因素引起：

• Decreased Blinking: When we stare at computer screens, smartphones, or tablets, our blink rate drops significantly. Less blinking means tears evaporate faster without being replenished.

  眨眼次數減少： 當我們注視電腦螢幕、智能手機或平板電腦時，眨眼頻率會大幅下降。眨眼減少意味著淚水在得到補充之前就已經蒸發。

• Environmental Factors: Hong Kong's reliance on indoor air-conditioning reduces ambient humidity, stripping moisture from the eyes. Windy or dry outdoor weather has a similar effect.¹

  環境因素： 香港高度依賴室內冷氣，這會降低環境濕度，抽乾眼睛的水分。大風或乾燥的戶外天氣也會產生類似的影響。¹

• Age and Hormones: Tear production naturally diminishes as we age. Post-menopausal women are particularly susceptible due to hormonal changes.²

  年齡與荷爾蒙： 淚液分泌會隨著年齡增長而自然減少。由於荷爾蒙的變化，停經後的女性特別容易患上此症。²

• Medical and Physical Factors: Long-term contact lens wear, certain medications (like antihistamines and blood pressure drugs), and autoimmune diseases (such as Sjögren's syndrome) can severely reduce tear production.²

  醫療與生理因素： 長期佩戴隱形眼鏡、服用某些藥物（如抗組織胺藥和降血壓藥），以及患有自身免疫性疾病（如乾燥綜合症），都會嚴重減少淚液分泌。²

Symptoms and Diagnosis: How Do You Know?
症狀與診斷：如何得知自己患有乾眼症？

Dry eye symptoms can range from a mild nuisance to severe discomfort. Interestingly, one of the most common signs is actually watery eyes—the body's reflex response to the underlying dryness. Key signs include:

乾眼症的症狀可輕可重。有趣的是，其中一個最常見的徵兆竟然是經常流眼水——這是身體對潛在乾燥的反射性反應。主要徵兆包括：

• A stinging, burning, or scratchy "gritty" sensation, as if there is sand in your eye.

  眼睛有刺痛、灼熱或沙澀的「異物感」，感覺就像眼睛裡進了沙子。

• Stringy mucus in or around the eyes.

  眼睛內或周圍出現絲狀黏液。

• Sensitivity to light and eye redness.

  對光線敏感和眼睛發紅。

• Blurred vision, especially toward the end of the day, or eye fatigue.¹

  視力模糊（尤其是在一天即將結束時）或眼睛疲勞。¹

If these symptoms persist, it is time to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist. Diagnosis is usually performed using a specialized microscope called a slit lamp. Eye care professionals will measure your Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT) to see how quickly your tears evaporate and may use harmless yellow eye drops (fluorescein) to highlight any microscopic damage or dry spots on the surface of your cornea.²

如果這些症狀持續存在，就應該去看視光師或眼科專科醫生。診斷通常使用一種稱為裂隙燈的專用顯微鏡進行。眼科專業人員會測量您的淚膜破裂時間 (TBUT)，以觀察淚水蒸發的速度，並可能使用無害的黃色眼藥水（熒光素）來突出顯示角膜表面任何微小的損傷或乾燥斑點。²

Treatments and Management
治療與管理

While chronic Dry Eye Syndrome often cannot be completely cured, the symptoms can be highly effectively managed to restore your comfort:

雖然慢性的乾眼症通常無法完全治癒，但可以透過極其有效的管理來緩解症狀並恢復舒適度：

• Artificial Tears: Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops, gels, and ointments are the first line of defense to supplement natural tear production. Preservative-free options are best for frequent use.¹

  人造淚水： 在藥房購買的潤滑眼藥水、眼部啫喱和藥膏是補充天然淚液的第一道防線。如需頻繁使用，最好選擇不含防腐劑的產品。¹

• Lifestyle Adjustments: Using a desk humidifier, taking frequent screen breaks using the 20-20-20 rule, and ensuring your computer monitor is positioned slightly below eye level (so your eyelids do not have to open as wide) can make a massive difference.

  生活方式調整： 在辦公桌上使用加濕器、遵循 20-20-20 法則（每看屏幕20分鐘，看20呎外的景物20秒）定期讓眼睛休息，並確保電腦螢幕略低於視線水平（這樣眼瞼就不必張得太大），這些都能帶來巨大的改善。

• Warm Compresses and Eyelid Hygiene: Applying a warm towel to the eyes and gently massaging the eyelids can help unblock the meibomian glands, which produce the essential oily layer of tears.²

  熱敷與眼瞼衛生： 用溫熱的毛巾敷眼並輕輕按摩眼瞼，有助於疏通負責分泌淚液中重要油脂層的瞼板腺。²

• Advanced Medical Procedures: For severe cases, doctors might recommend inserting tiny, removable silicone plugs (punctal plugs) into the tear ducts to prevent tears from draining away too quickly, or utilizing Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy to reduce eyelid inflammation.

  進階醫療程序： 對於嚴重的個案，醫生可能會建議將微小且可移除的硅膠塞（淚點塞）放入淚管中，以防止淚水過快流失；或者使用彩光（IPL）治療來減輕眼瞼發炎。

Why Dry Eye is a Major Issue in Hong Kong
為什麼乾眼症在香港是一個重大問題？

Hong Kong is a hyper-connected, high-stress city, creating the perfect storm for Dry Eye Syndrome. Our intense work culture demands long hours in front of digital screens inside heavily air-conditioned skyscrapers.

香港是一個高度互聯、高壓的城市，這為乾眼症創造了完美的爆發條件。我們高強度的工作文化，要求人們在冷氣強勁的摩天大樓內長時間面對電子螢幕。

The prevalence is alarmingly high. A recent large-scale study by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) utilizing global diagnostic criteria revealed that up to 59% of the Hong Kong population suffers from Dry Eye Disease—a rate significantly higher than in many Western countries.³

乾眼症的患病率高得令人擔憂。香港理工大學（PolyU）最近一項採用全球診斷標準的大型研究顯示，高達 59% 的香港人口患有乾眼症——這個比例遠高於許多西方國家。³

Furthermore, the situation was exacerbated by the pandemic. A study by the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine) found that one in five post-COVID-19 patients developed recent-onset dry eye symptoms, linking the viral infection and subsequent systemic inflammation directly to ocular surface issues.⁴

此外，疫情進一步惡化了這個情況。香港中文大學醫學院（中大醫學院）的一項研究發現，五分之一的 COVID-19 康復者出現了新發的乾眼症狀，這項研究將病毒感染及隨後的全身性發炎與眼表問題直接聯繫起來。⁴

The Personal Impact: More Than Just "Tired Eyes"
個人影響：不僅僅是「眼睛疲勞」

On a personal level, dismissing dry eyes as mere fatigue is a dangerous misconception. Severe, untreated Dry Eye Syndrome can lead to significant complications. Without adequate lubrication, the surface of the eye is vulnerable to abrasions. This can lead to eye inflammation, painful corneal ulcers, and in extreme cases, permanent vision loss.¹

就個人而言，將乾眼症視為單純的疲勞是一種危險的誤解。嚴重且未經治療的乾眼症會導致嚴重的併發症。在缺乏足夠潤滑的情況下，眼球表面很容易受損擦傷。這可能會導致眼部發炎、痛苦的角膜潰瘍，在極端情況下甚至會導致永久性視力喪失。¹

Beyond physical damage, the condition heavily impacts mental well-being and productivity. The constant discomfort can severely impair daily functions like reading, driving, and working, making it a frustrating chronic burden.

除了身體上的損害外，這種疾病還會嚴重影響心理健康和工作效率。持續的不適會嚴重妨礙閱讀、駕駛和工作等日常活動，使其成為一種令人沮喪的慢性負擔。