TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Chair Sun Chi-chin (孫啟欽) said Thursday that approximately 1.83 million individuals in Taiwan have dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye syndrome and cataracts have become common eye conditions in Taiwan, partly driven by prolonged screen time. According to the association, one in three older adults in Taiwan has the syndrome, and 70% of individuals with dry eye are women, per CNA.
Sun said that 80% of cataract patients have coexisting dry eye problems. He added that eye-related procedures, such as cataract surgery, laser eye correction, and corneal surgery, may also trigger or worsen the condition.
Patients with dry eye may experience symptoms such as a foreign body sensation, pain, burning, and light sensitivity. Due to the dry indoor environment caused by prolonged exposure to air conditioning during the summer, about 51% of patients report worsened symptoms during the season.
Prolonged screen time has reduced most individuals' blink rate from 10 to 12 times per minute to three to four times, which increases the risk of developing dry eye syndrome, Sun said. He noted that diabetes and the regular use of contact lenses may also raise the risk of the condition.
Sun said that reducing screen time, applying warm compresses to the eyes, and using artificial tears can help relieve symptoms. He emphasized that if corneal abrasions or vision-impairing injuries occur, surgical treatment may be necessary.
According to the International Myopia Institute, more than 73% of Taiwan's population is affected by myopia. High myopia can lead to complications such as cataracts, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, and even blindness.
As of March 2024, more than 450,000 individuals in Taiwan were diagnosed with glaucoma, an eye condition that damages the optic nerve. This represents a 22% increase over the past five years. Macular degeneration, an eye disease that can blur a patient's central vision, affects approximately 10% of the nation's population aged 65 and older.
