Core Tip: The human body is an integrated whole. If you experience unexplained bad breath or excessive eye discharge, you need to pay attention, as your body is sending you a health warning!
The eye secretions of a normal person mainly come from the tear glands, meibomian glands, mucus secreted by ocular surface cells, and shed ocular surface epithelial cells. Most are transparent or pale white and are not usually noticeable. Due to the small amount of secretion, it can be promptly drained through the tear ducts and does not cause eye discomfort.
When certain eye diseases occur, the amount or characteristics of eye secretions will change. Usually, when people observe a significant increase in secretions, they will also feel a series of discomforts, such as difficulty opening the eyes upon waking, blurred vision, etc.
At this time, in addition to the above-mentioned components, the secretion will contain more shed tissue cells, inflammatory cells, vascular exudates, pathogens, etc.
Abnormal secretions are mainly divided into 5 types
Based on the viscosity, color, and other properties of the secretions, they can be divided into watery, mucoid, mucopurulent, purulent, and bloody secretions. Different types of secretions can help us initially determine the general nature of eye diseases, so as to take corresponding treatment measures.
1. Watery secretions
This is a thin, slightly viscous, watery liquid. An increase in this type of secretion often suggests viral keratoconjunctivitis, early tear duct obstruction, a foreign body on the ocular surface, or minor trauma. In children, as the nasal bridge bone is not fully developed, some may have epicanthus with entropion, which often causes eye irritation symptoms and an increase in watery secretions. In the elderly, abnormal eyelid positions, such as entropion or ectropion, can also lead to an increase in watery secretions.
2. Mucoid secretions
Often seen in patients with dry eye syndrome and acute allergic conjunctivitis, it often manifests as a thick, white, thread-like substance, very similar to common glue. Patients may also have symptoms of a foreign body sensation and eye itching. Especially in children with allergic conjunctivitis, they often say upon waking in the morning that they can pull threads out of their eyes, which are often mucoid secretions.
Mucopurulent secretions are a relatively thick, slightly yellowish substance. An increase in this type of secretion should suggest the possibility of chronic allergic conjunctivitis or trachoma.
3. Purulent secretions
This is the issue that should receive the most attention. The appearance of purulent secretions often indicates a bacterial infection and requires prompt medical attention. In newborns, if large amounts of purulent secretions are found in both eyes within 3-4 days after birth, it is highly suggestive of gonococcal conjunctivitis, commonly known as "ophthalmia neonatorum." Patients with suppurative dacryocystitis also often have purulent secretions, usually concentrated in the inner corner of the eye.
4. Bloody secretions
If you find that the eye secretion is light pink or obviously blood-red, you should consider eye trauma. If the eye secretion is light pink or slightly tinged with blood, acute viral infection should be considered. At this time, the patient will also have symptoms such as red eyes and swollen preauricular lymph nodes.
Unexplained tearing may be due to unsuitable glasses
In addition, if myopia or astigmatism is not corrected in time or the glasses are not suitable, it can also lead to an increase in watery secretions after prolonged reading, accompanied by eye fatigue. It should be emphasized that if parents find that a child has an increase in watery secretions in both eyes, always looks "teary," and has large pupils, they should have the child examined by a doctor to rule out congenital glaucoma.
As living standards continue to improve, people are paying more and more attention to their health. Observing eye secretions is convenient and simple, making it a good self-check indicator for the body. To be healthy, one must be meticulous.