Today, we look at the effect of environmental changes on the eyes and vision to understand how to safeguard your vision in the years to come.
Let’s start with the environment.
Over the course of its long history, the Earth has undergone cyclical environmental changes, including warm periods and ice ages. At this point, however, many scientists highlight that the magnitude of the environmental changes we are witnessing cannot be explained by natural cycles alone.
The best example is global warming, which occurs at a faster rate than at any other time in recorded history. In the 20th century, the temperature of the planet rose by about 0.7 degrees Celsius, which is around ten times faster than during the warming periods occurring after ice ages in the last million years.
Human processes can impact the environment in many ways. Here are some of the most significant ways in which humans contribute to environmental changes.
The impact of climate change on the environment is significant. Changes in rainfall are leading to droughts, heat waves are becoming more severe, ice caps are melting, and the sea level is rising. Ecosystem changes are altering plant and animal lifecycles.
The climate change effect on the environment is unavoidable unless nations make a firm commitment to cut back greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.
Environmental changes have widespread effects on the eyes and vision. These range from obvious pollution that causes cancer to more subtle environmental changes that promote conditions like dry eye disease.
Climate change and the depletion of the ozone layer make overexposure to ultraviolet radiation more likely. This increases the risk for photoconjunctivitis, acute solar retinopathy, cataracts, macular degeneration, and other serious conditions.
In some parts of the world, climate change can increase the risk for certain eye infections like trachoma, which can cause irreversible blindness. It can also lead to food insecurity that can cause vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin A or vitamin E deficiency can affect vision and lead to vision loss.
Climate change is also increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events. Strong rains, tornadoes, or cyclones can all increase the risk of physical injuries including eye injuries. Meanwhile, drought and low humidity levels are creating environmental conditions that lead to dry eye disease.
Air pollution can cause eye redness, inflammation, light sensitivity, and a host of other symptoms. Over time, air pollution may also lead to the development of cataracts and eye cancer.
Alongside weather changes, air pollution may also contribute to allergic conjunctivitis. Climate change is also altering plant behavior, which can promote allergic reactions.
Climate change can also exacerbate poverty in certain parts of the world. This may affect the availability of healthcare services, making it harder for some people to get regular eye exams.
You can mitigate the effects of many environmental changes by being proactive about eye health. Small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few things you can do.
The environment is changing even as we speak, and our eyes and vision are at risk. While the effects of climate change, air pollution, or the thinning ozone layer on the eyes may not be obvious, they are a cause of concern.
While some environmental changes are beyond your control, proactively safeguarding your vision can help. It all starts with small things like wearing sunglasses, eating a healthy diet, and taking an eye health supplement.
Lastly, don’t forget that you can play your part in reducing the impact of human activities on the environment. Don’t buy things you don’t need, dispose of waste selectively, make eco-friendly purchases, walk or ride a bicycle instead of driving everywhere. Over the course of your lifetime, these can make a difference.
For an even more substantial impact, become aware of environmental policies and movements in your area and support them in any way you can. Also, consider raising awareness about environmental problems and solutions among your friends and family. Every bit of effort counts toward preserving the planet.
]]>According to a 2022 study, dry eye disease prevalence was 3.5% in adults aged 18 to 67 years old and 7.8% in adults aged 68 years and older. The US population was around 331.9 million in 2021, which suggests that around 11 million adults and 25 million senior adults are living with dry eye disease.
In the medical world, there is a consensus that many people who experience dry eye symptoms don’t know they have dry eye disease nor are they always diagnosed soon enough. This can make dry eye disease a cause of silent suffering.
Dry eye disease can affect the quality of your life, reduce your productivity at work, and make it difficult for you to enjoy time in front of screens. It can make reading tiring and challenging. Using your computer or phone can also become unpleasant because of the blurriness and eye dryness.
If you also experience light sensitivity, you may find it unpleasant to spend time outdoors. This can have detrimental effects for health and contribute to weight gain.
Dry eye disease can also make driving challenging. The pain, blurriness, and light sensitivity can increase your risk of road accidents during daytime. What’s more, dry eye can cause glare while driving at night.
Important: Before and while driving it’s best to avoid using eye drops commonly prescribed for dry eye syndrome. These can cause temporary blurriness that can make it difficult for you to follow the traffic signs and other cars on the road.
Although dry eye disease symptoms can be serious and interfere with daily life, the condition itself often remains undiagnosed. Next, let’s look at the reasons why.
Although dry eye disease can cause serious discomfort and over time lead to eye damage that can cause vision loss, it’s often underappreciated by both the people who live with it and eye doctors. Why does this happen?
Going to the doctor is never fun, and when your eye symptoms don’t appear too serious, it’s easier to ignore them than to do anything about them.
Chronic dry eye can occur for many reasons. Sometimes dry eyes causes are obvious, like constant exposure to wind, dust, or smoke. At other times, these causes may pass unnoticed.
A good example is prolonged screen time at home or work. By changing blinking patterns, excessive screen time may contribute to dry eye disease.
Since screens have become an integral part of daily life for many people, it’s easy to downplay any eye dryness resulting from them. Air conditioning systems and the lack of humidity they often lead to only compound the problem.
Dry eye can also occur because of certain medication or autoimmune conditions. Even a poor diet may contribute to the condition, to say nothing of ageing. Because the triggers for the condition are so many and so varied, their association with dry eyes is not always obvious.
It’s also possible for dry eye syndrome to be the result of multiple underlying causes, which only compounds the problem. For example, a person’s tear glands may start to produce fewer tears because of ageing.
The same person may undergo hormonal changes and use antihistamines to manage seasonal allergies. Add to that screen time in an air-conditioned environment, and eye dryness is highly likely.
If your eyes have been feeling dry lately, you don’t have to wait for a dry eye diagnostic to start managing your condition. Seeing an eye doctor is important and so are regular eye checkups – to keep your eyes healthy it’s important not to put them off.
At the same time, there’s a lot you can do to relieve dry eyes. Here are a few useful tips you may want to consider:
Dry eye disease may be common, but that doesn’t have to mean that you must ignore or quietly endure the symptoms it causes. Awareness about the condition is the first step to managing it.
Check the many other resources about dry eye disease on our blog. They may prove useful.]]>Around 20-25 million LASIK surgeries have been carried out in the U.S. alone since 1999.
Over 90% of LASIK patients achieve 20/20 or better vision, according to the American Refractive Surgery Council. What’s more, over 96% of patients report being satisfied after LASIK according to the same source.
With that in mind, LASIK involves a recovery period during which you may experience vision changes and other side effects. Today, we explain LASIK recovery time and show you how to help your eyes heal faster after this procedure.
LASIK stands for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. During LASIK, an eye surgeon uses a high-precision laser to permanently reshape the cornea to correct a refractive error such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
The cornea is a transparent layer that covers the front of the eye. In addition to protecting the eye, it refracts light and helps light rays focus on the retina to enable vision.
Some people are born with a corneal curve or shape that affects their eyesight. Others develop changes to their cornea with age or because of injury or other factors. LASIK can help correct some of these changes.
During the procedure, your eye surgeon uses a laser to cut a flap in the cornea. After folding back this flap, the eye doctor uses laser again to reshape a part of the cornea.
After LASIK, you may experience a variety of eye symptoms ranging from mild to annoying. Post LASIK symptoms can include:
LASIK surgery and dry eyes go hand in hand. Dry eye is the most prevalent symptom after LASIK, with up to 95% of patients experiencing it.
To create the flap in the cornea, your eye doctor has to cut through some corneal nerves. Until your eyes heal, your tear film may be unevenly distributed over the surface of your eyes.
LASIK eye surgery recovery time usually takes between two to six months. Recovery time after LASIK depends on age, genetics, and the severity of the condition.
For a quick recovery, follow your doctor’s instructions. The following LASIK timeline is only a broad estimate of what you can expect.
If your eye symptoms after LASIK worry you or if they last beyond a few weeks, discuss your concerns with your doctor.
One of the most frequent aftereffects of LASIK is dry eyes, or a feeling of having something in your eye.
Your eye doctor will likely recommend a treatment for dry eyes after LASIK that may include medication and eye drops. For most people, LASIK dry eyes begin to go away within weeks or months.
Permanent dry eyes after LASIK is not common but may occur in rare cases. Since chronic dry eye can have multiple causes, it’s important to investigate whether other factors like lifestyle, computer use, diet, or underlying medical conditions may contribute to it.
Good to know: If you already have dry eye before LASIK, the surgery can worsen your symptoms. Your eye doctor may delay LASIK until your dry eye disease is under control.
Making a full recovery after LASIK becomes easier if you keep a few things in mind.
In addition to these LASIK recovery tips, you may also want to take an eye health supplement that supports overall eye health.
SightC is a superfood blend that provides lutein, zeaxanthin, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients that your eyes need to stay healthy. Find out more about SightC.
Most people who undergo LASIK can return to work within a matter of days after surgery. This is shorter than other types of eye surgery.
A quick LASIK eye surgery recovery time is possible because the procedure is minimally invasive and highly precise.
Many patients see clearly within a day after undergoing LASIK surgery and can resume normal life.
It usually takes up to 3 months for the eye to heal, during which symptoms like dry eyes or light sensitivity may persist. In some cases, vision symptoms may last for 3 months or longer.
You can go back to running one week after undergoing LASIK. If you are a professional runner and need to return to training faster, you may do so within as little as two days after the procedure with your doctor’s consent.
In the case of weightlifting, you can return to the gym around two weeks after the surgery. For high impact sports like boxing or martial arts, it’s best to give yourself at least a month after LASIK.
LASIK recovery isn’t difficult so long as you follow your doctor’s advice, protect your eyes, and avoid strenuous exercise, contact sports, and swimming immediately after the surgery.
With that in mind, LASIK dry eye occurs often, and in some cases, it can last for six months or longer. If you are concerned about this, talk with your doctor and consider taking an eye health supplement.
In the end, recovering from LASIK can be an opportunity to review your eye care practices and improve them.
]]>At its core, vision is the collaboration between our eyes and brain, utilizing light reflections to grant us the ability to see. This process begins when our eyes detect light, converting it into nerve signals that travel through the optic nerves to the brain. Here, these signals are decoded into the images we perceive. It's an ongoing, rapid process that allows us to see and react to our surroundings.
Our eyes function similarly to cameras, focusing light onto the retinas, which act like advanced sensors. This comparison, however, is modest, as the human eye's complexity far surpasses any camera. Our pupils and lens work together to adjust focus and control the amount of light entering, ensuring that we can see clearly in various lighting conditions.
The retinas, with their photoreceptors known as rods and cones, are pivotal in converting light into coded nerve signals. Rods help us see in low light, while cones are responsible for detecting detail and color. These signals are then transmitted via the optic nerves to the brain for processing.
The brain's role in vision extends beyond merely receiving and interpreting signals. It constructs images, incorporates language understanding, and accesses memories to fully comprehend what we see. This highlights the brain's integral role in the visual process, making vision a truly holistic experience.
Maintaining vision health is paramount, as various conditions can impact different parts of the visual system, from the eyes to the brain. Regular eye exams, protective measures, proper nutrition, and avoiding harmful habits like tobacco use are crucial steps in preserving vision.
In the era of digital dependency, our eyes face new challenges, such as eye strain and nutrient depletion from prolonged screen use. Sightsage emerges as a beacon of innovation, offering functional foods and nutritional supplements tailored for digital lifestyles. By focusing on prevention and utilizing whole food-based nutrition, Sightsage empowers individuals to care for their vision proactively.
Sightsage combines contemporary nutrition science with traditional Chinese medicine wisdom to create nutritional products aimed at enhancing eyesight and overall wellness. This fusion of ancient and modern knowledge offers a powerful approach to combat modern eye health problems, backed by the commitment to make eye care an enjoyable and integral part of daily life.
Sightsage's mission extends beyond individual wellness to making a positive difference worldwide. Through high-quality, natural products and a commitment to integrity and compassion, Sightsage invites everyone to join their journey towards better vision health and a fulfilled life.
For those interested in integrating Sightsage into their routine or seeking more information, the company is reachable at +1 778-988-8053 or support@sightsage.com. Embrace this holistic approach to vision care and experience the difference in your vision and overall well-being.
]]>Today, we take a closer look at pet allergies and the eyes to better understand when and why they occur. We also look at ways you can safeguard your eyes and vision from pet allergies without giving up on the joy of owning a pet.
Let’s get started.
Pet allergies occur when allergens, which are proteins that your pet produces, make your immune system overreact. In themselves, pet allergens are often harmless, but your body may still react to them as if they were bacteria.
Some people are sensitive to allergens from one animal, others to allergens from multiple animals. If you are sensitive to any pet allergen, your body will create the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE).
This antibody will find the allergens in your body and transport them to the mast cell for removal. The mast cell releases the chemical histamine, which acts as a bouncer that helps your body get rid of the allergen. It’s this chemical that triggers allergy symptoms.
Common triggers of allergic eye disease include pet dander from your pet’s skin, hair, or feathers. Pet skin, fur, spit, or pee may also cause allergies.
Dogs and eye allergies are common. The most common dog allergen is produced in the salivary gland and deposited on the fur through saliva when the dog licks itself. The fur then dries, and the particles flake off into the air. There are no hypoallergenic dogs – that’s only a myth. But some dogs produce fewer allergens than others.
Pet allergies can occur anytime between a few minutes and a few days after encountering a pet. Pet allergies often run in families. You can get tested for allergies using the skin prick or blood IgE tests.
Up to 20% of the world’s population suffers from cat and dog allergies. Other pets with fur, like hamsters, guinea pigs, or horses can cause allergies, as can animals with feathers. In case you’re looking for a more unusual pet, reptiles, amphibians, and spiders are less likely to cause allergies.
Pet allergies can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on your sensitivity to them.
Good to know: Eye allergies in one eye are uncommon. They may occur only if pet dander or another allergen gets in the eye. However, it’s more likely that there’s another underlying cause behind your symptoms.
Pet allergies often cause the inflammation of the nasal passages, which can make your eyes feel itchy or watery, in addition to giving you a stuffy or runny nose.
Symptoms of pet allergies can be similar to those caused by the common cold. They can include:
Good to know: Pet allergies can also worsen asthma symptoms. If you or a member of your family has asthma, it’s important to consult with a doctor to understand your options.
If you have a mild pet allergy, you may not need any treatment. When your symptoms are more frequent and unpleasant, you can try treatment in the form of antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids.
These treatments are available over the counter. Immunotherapy delivered as allergy shots are also available. These lower your allergen sensitivity for longer periods.
We’ve already seen that pet allergens can cause eye symptoms. But common pet allergy medication like antihistamines can also cause eye symptoms including dry eye disease.
Antihistamines can cause other symptoms too including dry mouth, cough, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea.
Tip: Find out more about the difference between dry eye disease and eye allergies.
You can reduce the risk of suffering a pet allergy even if you have a pet in your home without taking any medication. Here are some simple and effective things you can do.
Remember that it’s important to adapt these measures to the type of pet you have. For example, pets with longer coats may produce more allergens and require more frequent cleaning than breeds with a shorter coat.
As you can see, there’s a lot you can do to prevent and manage eye allergies from pets. A mild allergy to pet dander doesn’t have to mean that you can’t keep a pet. For more serious allergies, it’s good to talk with a doctor.
In your quest to reduce pet allergies affecting the eyes, you may also want to support your eye health. In our busy digital age, it’s all too easy to develop eye symptoms which have nothing to do with your pet.
Dry eyes is a common example. If you already have dry eyes, having a pet allergy can make your symptoms worse.
One way to support your eyes is to provide them with the nutrients they need to function at their best. A healthy diet is the first step, but you also want to consider an eye health supplement like SightC.
SightC is a superfood blend that brings together lutein, zeaxanthin, and other antioxidants and nutrients that play a crucial role in vision. Some of these nutrients also support the normal function of the tear glands and contribute to a stable tear film.
Learn more about SightC and how it can help your eyes.]]>The recalls began in February and reached a peak in October when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took off the shelves more than a dozen OTC eye drops.
Today, we take a closer look at the 2023 eye drops recalls to understand when eye drops can be dangerous and what alternatives you have. Let’s start with the facts.
The year 2023 had barely started when Global Pharma Healthcare recalled three EzriCare and Delsam Pharma artificial tears eye drops due to potential microbial contamination. It was only the beginning of what would become a major health issue.
By May 19, 81 people developed highly drug-resistant bacterial infections from using contaminated eye drops mostly sold online. Fourteen of these people lost their sight, four needed to have their eyes removed through surgery, and another four died.
Things didn't end there. Late August saw the recall of two methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) eye drops, LightEyez MSM Eye Drops – Eye Repair and Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution, also due to bacterial contamination. In the US, eye drops using the active ingredient methylsulfonylmethane are banned and illegal.
Then on October 27, 2023, the FDA warned consumers not to buy and to stop using 26 over-the-counter eye drops. By November 3, 2023, the FDA warned against a few more products.
All of these products carry the risk of eye infections that can lead to vision loss and blindness. Consumers who already bought them were advised to stop using them at once and throw away the bottles.
The OTC eye drops in question came from the brands CVS Health, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Harvard Drug Group), Rite Aid, Target, Velocity Pharma LLC, and Walmart. They included lubricating eye drops and gels, multi-action relief drops, eye irritation relief drops, and dry eye drops.
Eye drops and eye gels are supposed to be sterile, that is, free from germs. Contamination can occur during the manufacturing process and at any point after.
The FDA investigators found insanitary conditions in the manufacturing facility where some of the above-mentioned eye drops were being made. What’s more, investigators found bacteria in drug production areas.
More than causing eye infections, contaminated eye drops can lead to other health problems because they are applied directly to the eyes, which bypasses some of the body’s immune defenses.
Infections from eye drops remain rare, but when they occur, they can have severe consequences because of their resistance to treatment.
Eye drop formulations also have to be stable to retain their properties. Most eye drops are packaged in multi-use bottles. This often means that they contain preservatives.
The products recalled were OTC eye drops from little-known brands and store brands. Major pharmaceutical companies that make eye drops like Alcon, Johnson & Johnson, or Allergan haven’t run into this kind of problem. For example, there has never been a Visine eye drops recall.
Also, it’s important to highlight that no prescription eye drops have been recalled in 2023. Prescription eye drops can be a critical component in the treatment of eye infections and other eye diseases.
With that in mind, even eye drops deemed safe can be bad for your eyes sometimes. A good example is dry eye drops containing preservatives like benzalkonium chloride (BAK).
Manufacturers use BAK and other preservatives to maintain eye drops sterile. Without preservatives, most formulations would only be available as a single-use dose unless packaged in special delivery bottles like ABAK or COMOD.
The use of eye drops with BAK has been associated with tear film disruption, corneal toxicity, and other eye problems. In other words, long-term use of BAK to treat dry eyes can make dry eyes worse.
No fewer than 120.55 million Americans used eye drops and eye wash in 2020, with this number projected to increase to 123.35 million by 2024 according to Statista.
Was the use of eye drops necessary in each of these cases? Probably not. Would there have been alternative treatment options at least for some of the patients? Yes.
When an eye doctor prescribes you eye drops, it’s for a reason and you should take the treatment. Remember that most eye doctors stay up to date with FDA drug recalls and are among the first to know when they happen.
If you have any concerns about the eyes and vision product you’ve been prescribed, discuss them with your doctor. In many cases, other options will be available.
By contrast, OTC eye drops that you can buy without a prescription may not always be necessary. Safe artificial tears may soothe dry eye symptoms, but they won’t address the underlying cause of dry eye disease.
You may want to consider alternative treatment options for dry eyes such as applying a warm compress, eating a healthy diet for your eyes, and taking an eye health supplement.
A healthy diet can be a great way to nourish your eyes. You can find out more about foods good for the eyes in our post on the best foods for eye health.
Alongside a healthy diet, an eye health supplement may even help with improving eyesight naturally by providing your eyes with lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids (a type of antioxidant) occur in the part of the eye responsible for the sharpest vision, the macula within the retina.
Studies show that taking in more carotenoids as a supplement may improve night vision at least in some groups of people. Good night vision is important for driving safely at night.
SightC is a plant-based, natural eye health supplement that brings together antioxidants and key nutrients from goji berries, turmeric, and other superfoods. These nutrients support the health of eye cells and tear glands.
Learn more about SightC and how it can help keep your eyes healthy.
]]>Is there a link between anxiety and blurred vision or between anxiety and dry eye disease? Read on to find out more about anxiety vision changes.
We’ll also be discussing ways in which you can manage anxiety to improve eye health. Let’s get started.
Vision problems from anxiety can include blurred vision, dry eye disease, double vision, tunnel vision, and more. Let’s take a closer look at each of these to understand why they occur.
When you become anxious, your body releases the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that affect breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Your vision becomes sharper as your body is geared to identify threats.
But at the same time, because of the heightened heart rate and blood pressure, you may move faster, which makes it harder for your eyes to focus on things around you. This can make you feel as if your vision is blurry.
Severe anxiety may also increase pressure in the eyes. This can also contribute to blurred vision. What’s more, anxiety increases the risk of dry eye disease, which is associated with blurred vision. However, this tends to occur more often with chronic rather than acute anxiety.
Anxiety may also cause tunnel vision, in which you cannot see objects clearly unless they are close to your central field of view. When you experience tunnel vision, your peripheral vision is unclear or blurred.
According to the study cited above, people experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression are more likely to have dry eye disease. Dry eyes can make you feel like you have something in your eye that you can’t blink away. It may also cause redness, burning, itchiness, and pain in the eye.
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication may cause dry eyes and blurred vision through its effects on the tear glands and tear film. On the other hand, dry eyes may also cause psychological issues such as anxiety and depression.
Double vision or diplopia can make you see double. When you’re anxious, you may be breathing too fast. This is known as hyperventilation and may increase the risk of double vision.
Good to know: Stress has wide-ranging effects on your body and can affect your eyes too. Learn more about the association between stress and eye and vision problems.
In addition to the anxiety vision changes we’ve already discussed, anxiety can cause a variety of other eye issues.
Good to know: Anxiety vision changes can come and go, affect one eye only, or move from eye to eye. With that said, they are usually temporary, lasting for no longer than an hour.
In the end, remember that anxiety vision changes are temporary. Longer-lasting symptoms can be a sign of chronic problems and require a medical checkup.
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that can progress to vision loss. Understandably, glaucoma can cause anxiety and depression. But findings from a 2021 study suggest that anxiety also increases the risk of glaucoma progression.
For people diagnosed with glaucoma, stress and anxiety management are important and can help keep the condition in check.
The best approach to managing vision problems from anxiety is to prevent anxiety in the first place. This includes managing stress, which is a frequent anxiety trigger.
Some of the methods below may work better for you than others so try out as many as you can.
At the same time, it’s important to understand what triggers your anxiety and manage or avoid as much as possible these triggers. Common anxiety triggers include stress, conflict, grief, health issues, sleep deprivation, financial problems, social events, and medications.
Taking an eye health supplement like SightC could also help you better cope with anxiety eye issues. Rich in nutrients from superfoods like goji berries and turmeric, SightC supports the health of your eyes and tear glands in the digital age. It can provide your eyes with nutrients that you may not be getting through your diet.
Good to know: When anxiety kicks in, remember the 3-3-3 rule. Look around you to find 3 objects. Next, listen to 3 sounds, and then move 3 body parts. This simple rule can help you focus and relax.
There is a real link between anxiety and eyesight problems. Anxiety induces body-wide changes, and it can affect your eyes too, causing blurriness and other vision changes.
But there is a lot you can do to prevent anxiety and better manage it when it occurs. At the same time, you can look after your eyes by eating a nutrient-rich diet and taking an eye health supplement.
In the end, a calm mind helps keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear. Don’t neglect your mental health – often, a good way to prevent anxiety and depression is simply to take it easier. Give yourself enough time to destress, rest, and sleep well.
]]>Today, we take a closer look at food supplements for good eyesight. From capsules and soft gels to gummies, we examine what separates the best eye supplements from the rest.
So, what makes a good eye health supplement?
Your eyes are constantly exposed to pollution, UV damage, and oxidative damage resulting from natural cellular processes. This creates free radicals that can damage eye cells.
While not immediately noticeable, oxidative damage can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and other eye conditions. What’s more, as we age, the tear glands produce fewer tears, increasing the risk of dry eye disease.
A poor diet can undermine eye health by depriving your body of vitamins and nutrients that your eye cells need to function normally. For example, vitamin A and vision are closely associated.
Vitamin A deficiency can cause vision loss and blindness. While uncommon in the Western world, this deficiency may still occur because of a restrictive diet or poor absorption of nutrients in the body.
The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, both antioxidants, also play a crucial role in vision. They occur in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for the sharpest vision.
These antioxidants have a protective effect on the eyes that helps with dry eye disease and other eye conditions. What’s more, when they occur in a high concentration in the eyes, they can improve vision in dim light.
Meanwhile, vitamin E, vitamin C and macular degeneration have been associated in a 2019 study, alongside zinc and selenium. Together, these nutrients have a beneficial antioxidant effect and ward off other eye diseases as well.
Vitamin D also deserves a mention. There’s a connection between vitamin D and the eyes. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with dry eye disease, keratoconus, and vision side effects after post-refractive surgery.
Eye health supplements come in many different forms and can vary a lot in terms of the ingredients they contain. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of supplements for vision.
Some focus on one or two essential eye health nutrients, providing for example only lutein and zeaxanthin. Other supplements provide a host of nutrients that support eye health.
At first glance it may seem that a supplement which provides more nutrients is better. But it’s important to consider whether you may not be already getting those nutrients from food or regular vitamin supplements.
For comparison, it’s often easier to get vitamins A, C, and E through your diet than the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. The latter occur in high concentrations in leafy greens and eggs, which not everyone may eat.
Some eye health supplements also contain antioxidants proven to support eye health, like anthocyanins from bilberries or blueberries. If you’re not eating enough of the right fruits and vegetables, these supplements can be a smart choice.
Vision supplements can also be categorized according to whether they are made from plants and natural extracts or synthesized in a lab.
Natural supplements are suitable for all diets and less likely to have side effects. They may also contain active ingredients not found in lab-made supplements. To boot, they are free from artificial colorings and flavorings.
With that in mind, natural supplements can be more expensive and have a limited shelf life beyond which their potency decreases. How you store them may also affect the power of their active ingredients.
Capsules, soft gels, gummies, liquid, or powder? These are only some of the forms that eye health supplements take. Capsules and soft gels are usually the easiest to take and may ensure better nutrient intake than other forms of delivery.
Supplements in the form of gummies add taste and texture to the regular experience of taking a capsule. They can taste deliciously. However, they may also contain sugar, flavorings, and other artificial ingredients, so pay attention to the label.
Liquid or powder eye health supplements are less common. They are more difficult to take and may require special storage conditions.
In general, the ingredients that go into eye health supplements are vegetarian friendly. One exception to this may be supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil or fish liver, and which may be marketed for treating dry eye disease.
If you’re vegan, you’re probably wary of capsules made from gelatin, an animal product. The good news is that many eye health supplement manufacturers are sensitive to the needs of vegetarians and use vegetable-based (or vegan-friendly) capsules.
Some eye health supplements are available on a subscription that can save you money if you order them regularly. Your eyes need a steady supply of nutrients, and natural eye health supplements are generally safe to take over a long period.
Another advantage of a subscription-based supplement is that you know it’s going to be there. Other supplements may disappear off the shelf.
A good approach to choosing the right eye supplement for you starts with understanding your needs and any eye health problems you may be facing. If you have a specific eye condition, asking an eye doctor to recommend you a supplement is a good idea.
For common eye conditions like dry eye disease, a well-rounded natural supplement that provides antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients can be an inspired choice. Look for a natural product free from additives and without added sugar.
SightC Natural Dry Eye Supplement is a superfood blend that brings together goji berries, turmeric, and other ingredients to soothe dry eye symptoms and support eye health in the digital age. Available in the form of vegetarian capsules, it’s easy to take at home and on the go.
Meanwhile, Blueberry Gummies provide anthocyanins and other antioxidants from freeze-dried Canadian blueberries. Sweetened with monk fruit, these gummies are a delicious treat that boosts eye health.
Keep your eyes happy with SightC and Blueberry Gummies.
]]>The beginning of a new year is a great time to reassess habits and develop new ones, including a better eye care routine. Paying a bit of attention to your eyes can go a long way to support and even improve vision in the years to come.
At the beginning of 2024, we want to share with you some simple but powerful eye health tips. Read on to find out how to strengthen your eyesight and ward off dry eye disease and other eye conditions.
You hear it all the time but it’s worth repeating, simply because it’s one of the best eye health tips around – eat more fruits and vegetables.
More than providing antioxidants and vitamins, fruits and vegs hydrate you, make you feel full, and have soluble fiber that’s good for digestion and that slows down the rise in blood glucose levels.
When you eat more fruits and vegetables, you feel full and nourished for longer and won’t be as tempted to eat processed foods. That said, eating more whole foods calls for some planning as far as buying, storing, and cooking them goes.
Processed foods are often high in salt (sodium) and added sugar or refined carbs. Foods with high sodium levels raise blood pressure and increase the risk of related eye problems.
High-carb, high-sugar foods raise blood sugar levels and can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
What’s more, processed foods are generally low in nutrients and high in calories and can lead to weight gain. Obesity has been associated with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Your eyes can dry out for many reasons, from spending too much time in front of screens to walking in the wind. A busy schedule that doesn’t leave you enough time to cook healthy meals every day can also get in the way.
But instead of reaching out for the bottle with artificial tears, you can make a warm compress. It’s a quick and inexpensive way to improve vision when dry eyes are making your sight blurry.
When is the last time you had an eye exam? If it’s been more than two years, it’s a good time to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor.
Many eye diseases, including dry eye disease, can creep in with initial symptoms that are so mild you can easily ignore them.
It’s also a good idea to check your vision for any corrections that may be needed. If your eyes tire quickly, you have difficulties focusing, or suffer regular headaches, it could be because you need glasses, or to upgrade your existing eyewear prescription.
Haven’t been to an eye exam in a long time? Eye exams today are quick and painless, so you have nothing to worry about.
Even if you’re not able to reduce your screen time, you can still take regular breaks every 20 minutes or so. Look away at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Or simply close your eyes. Known as the 20-20-20 rule, this will give your eyes much needed rest.
Having screen-free zones or hours in the house can also help you forget about screens and improve the quality of the time you spend with loved ones. And while you’re at it, you may also want to plan more time outdoors.
Walks in the park, hikes, or playing your favorite outdoor sport can all be fun ways to increase time spent outside.
UV radiation from sunlight can damage the eyes and increase the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration. If you’ve been reading our eye health blog, you must have heard this before.
But do you wear sunglasses that provide good UV protection when you go out during daytime, including on overcast days?
It all becomes easier if you have a pair of sunglasses that fit you well and that you enjoy wearing. From the size and shape of the frame to the tint of the lens, all these details matter. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop for sunglasses in a local store where you can try them out.
When thinking about how to improve eyesight naturally, sleep also helps. Sleep plays an essential role in maintaining the health of your eyes.
During deep sleep, blood flow to the eyes increases, delivering nutrients and removing harmful toxins and irritants. This helps repair cells in the eyes.
What’s more, sleep is beneficial for the tear glands and tear film. It helps lubricate and moisturize your eyes. Lack of sleep has been associated with a higher risk of dry eye disease and glaucoma. Check our post on sleep hygiene tips for better sleep every night.
Exercise may protect against specific eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Exercise also helps you maintain a healthy body weight, which can ward off diabetes and other chronic diseases that over time can affect eye health.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise 5-6 days a week. Low-impact aerobic exercise like walking, swimming, or cycling are great ways to move more without straining your body.
Taking a plant-based supplement can be a natural way to improve vision if you’re suffering from dry eye disease or tired eyes.
By feeding your eyes nutrients that may be lacking from your diet, natural supplements can support vision health in the digital age. For this reason, taking one is great even if you don’t suffer from an eye disease.
SightC Natural Dry Eye Supplement brings together goji berries with other superfoods to provide lutein, zeaxanthin, antioxidants, and other nutrients that protect your eyes from free radicals that occur naturally.
Blueberry Gummies are made from Canadian freeze-dried blueberries and sweetened with monk fruit. They provide anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant that has been shown to have a host of benefits for dry eye disease and eye health in general, as well as other nutrients.
You can take SightC and Blueberry Gummies at home, at work, or while you travel. And since they are sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan, you can easily incorporate them into any type of diet.
]]>More than providing eye healthy antioxidants and other nutrients, blueberries can add flavor and color to your meals.
Today, we invite you to discover a few delicious blueberry lunch and dinner recipe ideas that will make you enjoy not only your next few meals, but also the time you spend in the kitchen preparing them.
Blueberries are some of the best fruits for eyesight improvement because they contain anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that protect the retina against oxidative damage.
Studies show that blueberries may have a protective effect against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, and help manage eye fatigue, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
What’s more, findings from a 2016 study suggest that pterostilbene, a compound that occurs in blueberries, could protect the eyes from dry eye disease through its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
Discover the full benefits of blueberries for eyesight in our post on 13 Health Benefits of Blueberries for Your Eyes and Body.
Good to know: Cooking often decreases antioxidant levels in fruits, but a 2009 study found that cooking wild blueberries doesn’t significantly affect that.
The sweet, acidic taste of blueberries makes them easy to integrate into many different recipes, from toast to protein bars, pasta to chili. If you’ve never eaten blueberries this way, prepare yourself to be surprised.
A few handfuls of blueberries can enrich a bowl of kale salad with a fruity flavor and plenty of antioxidants. Also including other fruits good for eyesight like cranberries, this blueberry salad recipe is a great brunch idea in all seasons. You may want to skip the sugar, though.
Looking for a new take on the classic chili recipe? Try out this filling no-bean blueberry chili that takes only 15 minutes to make. Spicy and packed with energy and protein, it’s a meal that will energize you. Grab the recipe here.
Pair the healthy fats from avocado with a healthy dose of fresh antioxidants from blueberries in this tasty toast recipe. Make it even healthier by using low-fat cheese and skipping the honey. Use wholegrain toast instead of white bread for more flavor, more fiber, and more protein.
Looking for a quick lunch idea you can take with you on the go on your way to or from the gym? Try these homemade blueberry protein bars. Made with rolled oats, almond flour, coconut flour, almond butter, almond milk, and whey protein, they provide 14 grams of protein per serving while staying gluten free.
Blueberries and pasta? It’s an interesting mix. One cup of blueberries added to wholegrain fusilli and shredded, cooked chicken can turn a common recipe into a delicious treat – whether you choose to enjoy it for lunch or dinner. Add in herbs and spices for more flavor.
Salmon is one of the best fish you can eat for eye health, providing omega 3 fatty acids that support the functioning of the tear glands. Blueberry sauce can be a delicious accompaniment to salmon, adding a wonderful tartness to it. Use wild blueberries to get the most antioxidants out of your meal. Grab the recipe here.
With its striking color and delicious taste, this blueberry soup can be an inspired lunch idea on a hot day. The fresh summer blueberries are the star ingredient, which the ginger and yogurt complement wonderfully. The original recipe also has sugar, but you may want to skip that.
Cheese and blueberries can be a great match, and this tasty lunch recipe brings them together alongside basil and onions. You may want to skip the bacon to reduce the fat content of this meal – it tastes great without. To make this dish from scratch you need about half an hour, so try it out next time you have a free afternoon.
Next up, a blueberry stew recipe that’s great for colder days. Stew may not be the first dish you think about when it comes to blueberries. But this duck and blueberry stew recipe is as tasty as it is surprising.
The blueberries in this dish bring out the rich flavor of the duck. In addition to blueberries, this recipe has other ingredients that are good for eyesight like parsley, onion, and celery.
Ever tried mixing blueberry sauce with a chicken stir fry? The savory result could become one of your new favorite meal ideas. And since it also has brown rice and mixed vegetables, it makes for a filling dinner recipe idea. Check out now the blueberry chicken stir fry recipe.
A four-egg omelet can be a nutritious lunch that powers you up throughout the day. Throw in half a cup of blueberries and you’ll add some tartness and sweetness to the dish that will balance the heaviness of the eggs. Here is the full blueberry omelet recipe.
There’s no shortage of blueberry recipes you can try for lunch or dinner. Whether you opt for a light salad or a filling dish, you can find a way to add more blueberries to your meals while also discovering some delicious new food pairings in the process.
An eye health supplement is another way to take advantage of the natural blueberry benefits for the eyes. Blueberry Gummies from SightSage provide antioxidants and other nutrients that your eyes need to stay healthy in the digital age.
Taken regularly, Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies could help soothe symptoms of dry eye disease. They’re delicious, easy to take, and sugar-free, making them a great supplement to enjoy in between your meals.
Keep your eyes healthy with Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies.]]>In today’s post, we look at radiotherapy and chemotherapy vision side effects. We also share some tips on what you can do to minimize the effects of cancer treatment on the eyes.
Radiotherapy can cause eye dryness and dry eye syndrome. Symptoms may become more pronounced over time and can last after the treatment ends.
Radiation therapy that targets the eyes, brain, or the entire body can affect the functioning of the tear glands. This function may return in time or cause permanent changes that require treatment. Even low doses of radiation to the eye can cause meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye syndrome.
The meibomian glands are located above the eyes. They secrete the oily component that together with the watery and mucus layers make up a balanced tear film. When their function becomes disrupted, tears may evaporate too quickly and fail to lubricate the surface of the eye.
Other side effects of radiation can include light sensitivity, gritty eyes, and double vision.
Good to know: Radiotherapy and radioactive iodine can also cause epiphora, a condition in which the tear glands secrete too many tears or the tears don’t drain properly. It can be as unpleasant as dry eye disease and, in some cases, may require surgery before it improves.
The lens of the eye is one of the most radiosensitive tissues of the body. When targeting the eyes, higher doses of radiation may also cause cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy.
With that in mind, modern radiotherapy uses low doses of precisely targeted radiation that minimizes the risk of eye diseases that can cause vision impairment.
Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals to kill fast-growing cancer cells. There are over 100 different types of chemotherapy drugs, some of which can cause both immediate and late effects on the eyes.
Chemotherapy drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier can cause changes in the eye. Unlike radiotherapy, which typically causes dry eyes only if it targets the eyes and surrounding tissues, chemotherapy for cancers in other parts of the body may cause dry eyes through the systemic effects it has.
Chemo and vision changes can go hand in hand. Vision changes often include blurriness. More severe changes to color perception or field of vision require immediate medical attention.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, certain chemotherapy drugs, including methotrexate, cisplatin, and busulfan can cause dry eye syndrome as a late effect. What’s more, these drugs may also cause cataracts and vision impairment.
Children are more sensitive to the chemo effect on the eyes than adults. Because of this, children treated for cancer when young may go on to develop dry eyes and other eye conditions later in life.
Good to know: Surgery to remove tumors in or around the eyes may affect the tear glands and other structures involved in the production of tears causing temporary or long-lasting dry eyes.
Chemotherapy eye side effects often lessen or go away once the treatment ends. Side effects from radiation therapy, however, may last longer, for months or years.
If during cancer treatment you develop dry eyes or other eye symptoms or vision changes, discuss this with your doctor.
You may have to undergo regular eye exams and follow a treatment such as prescription tear drops. Eating a healthy diet for your eyes and taking an eye health supplement may also help. We’ll talk more about this in the next section.
If you are experiencing dry eyes during or after cancer treatment, it’s important to talk with your doctor. He may refer you to an eye specialist for further tests.
Meanwhile, here are a few general tips that may soothe your symptoms and help you better manage your condition.
When it comes to dry eyes, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can both cause the condition. Dry eyes caused by cancer treatment can last for months or longer. In some cases, it may even become permanent.
In addition to eye checkups and prescription treatment, there are quite a few things you can do to manage dry eyes caused by cancer treatment, from eating a healthy diet for your eyes to taking an eye health supplement.
The important thing is to address your symptoms early. Don’t downplay dry eyes or other eye symptoms or vision changes you may experience.
]]>In this post, we explain the link between amino acids and proteins and eye diseases, including chronic dry eye disease, cataracts, and glaucoma.
But first, let’s understand what amino acids do.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are complex molecules that provide the structure of the human body and enable its function and regulation.
Amino acids are also essential to the functioning of hormones and neurotransmitters.
Your body needs 21 amino acids to stay healthy:
There are 9 essential amino acids (bold) that the body can’t make on its own. These amino acids have to be consumed through food.
Amino acids can be combined in many different ways, which enables the body to make all the many different types of proteins that it needs to function well.
Apart from meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products, few foods provide all the essential amino acids.
Because of this, vegetarians and vegans need to consume complete protein sources like quinoa, soy, and buckwheat. It’s also possible to get the essential amino acids by combining foods that provide different amino acids, like rice and lentils.
Amino acids are necessary for the healthy functioning of the eyes. Science shows that some amino acids play an especially important role in eye health and may be involved in several eye diseases.
Arginine deficiency has been noted in psoriasis, diabetes, and other conditions that may trigger dry eye syndrome. L-arginine is a precursor of urea, a moisturizer that is part of the tear film.
Some studies showcase the importance of amino acids in the homeostasis of the eye surface. Tears contain amino acids, whose proportion may change depending on the condition of the surface of the eye. This suggests that food supplements or eye drops containing specific amino acids may help heal the surface of the eye.
More research is needed to better understand what amino acids are most effective at protecting the surface of the eye from the effects of dry eye disease.
Older studies have linked an excess of the amino acid glutamate to the occurrence of glaucoma. However, a 2003 comparative study that measured glutamate and 15 other amino acids in people with glaucoma found no such association.
A 2022 study found that the dietary intake of branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine reduced the risk of open-angle glaucoma in people over the age of 40.
So named because of their chemical structure, BCAAs play a key role in muscle maintenance and liver health. You can find them in eggs and dairy products. BCAAs are commonly added to muscle growth supplements.
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye loses its transparency. This happens when proteins in the eye start to break down and clump together.
Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness worldwide though it can often be corrected through surgery. Some research on animals shows that the depletion of the amino acid tryptophan may play a role in the formation of cataracts.
Older research found that the administration of lysine and amino acids in diabetic mice reduced the development of cataracts.
Retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye. It occurs in different forms in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR), both leading causes of blindness worldwide.
Studies have associated retinopathy with specific amino acids. Notably, glutamine and arginine were higher in peripheral blood samples taken from patients with diabetic retinopathy and AMD. Meanwhile, histidine decreased in samples of AMD patients.
What’s more, abnormalities in the metabolism of glutamate have been linked to neuronal degeneration in the retina.
Meanwhile, supplementation with the amino acid proline may have a protective effect against oxidative stress on the retina. More research is needed to understand how specific amino acids may aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of different forms of retinopathy.
Glutathione is an antioxidant made from the amino acids glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid. It occurs predominantly in the lens and the retina of the eye. Glutathione deficiency has been linked to glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.
Glutathione levels in the eye decline with age, leading to elevated oxidative stress that may affect the eye. Ensuring that your body takes in enough glutamate, cysteine, and glycine is one way to help your body maintain healthy levels of glutathione.
The same study cited above found that supplementing the diets of elderly people with cysteine and glycine, precursors of glutathione, stimulated glutathione synthesis and significantly reduced oxidative damage.
Amino acids play a key role in eye health, even though this role may not always be obvious.
Eating a healthy and varied diet that has all the essential amino acids is one way to support eye health. Consuming different protein sources is especially important if you are a vegetarian. Few plant-based foods have all the essential amino acids.
In addition to soy, quinoa, and buckwheat, make sure to combine foods to create meals that have all the amino acids. Peanut butter with wholegrain bread, hummus and pita bread, beans or lentils and brown rice are just some examples of delicious complete protein meals.
If you are suffering from an eye disease or are simply concerned about preserving your vision, you may want to discuss any potential amino acid supplements with your eye doctor.
Amino acid supplementation for eye health is still a new field and more research is necessary before such products become mainstream. That said, your doctor may be aware of specific treatments that could benefit you.
Meanwhile, a natural superfood blend can support eye health in the digital age.
SightC is a dry eye supplement that provides antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin and other nutrients that protect your eyes from environmental damage and support the healthy functioning of your tear glands. It’s easy to take and gluten-free.
Keep your eyes healthy with SightC.]]>But what about probiotics and dry eye disease? What does science have to say about the effects of probiotics on the eyes?
In this post, we explore that question to find out whether you should take probiotics for eye health. But first, a quick overview of what probiotics are exactly.
Probiotics are strands of living bacteria that increase the population of beneficial gut bacteria. They occur in certain fermented foods like kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, miso, or tempeh. They are also available as supplements, usually in the form of capsules.
Probiotics is a broad word. Some probiotics may contain only one strand of beneficial gut bacteria. Probiotic supplements usually contain multiple strands.
Probiotic supplements are measured in colony forming units (CFUs). A probiotic with 10 billion CFUs per dose provides 10 billion bacteria per dose. This may seem like a large amount, but not all bacteria will survive digestion. Large doses are necessary for probiotics to reach the gut and have beneficial effects on the body.
CFUs may decrease over time as a product reaches the end of its shelf life. Also, probiotics that are improperly stored may lose their potency. Storing probiotics in the fridge may help, but this varies from product to product.
Common probiotic strains come from the genera Lactobacillus (L.) and Bifidobacterium (B.). They are identified according to their species, for example B. lactis, B. longum, and L. acidophilus.
Good to know: Don’t confuse probiotics with prebiotics. Prebiotics are foods or supplements, usually in the form of plant fiber, that feed existing gut bacteria to stimulate their growth.
Recent research suggests that the microbiota, or the system of microorganisms in the gut, influences eye health. So much so that an imbalance in the microbiota could increase the risk or worsen the symptoms of a variety of eye diseases.
A study from the Baylor College of Medicine found that participants who took an oral probiotic containing Limosilactobacillus reuteri saw an improvement in their dry eye symptoms.
An earlier study also found that probiotics and prebiotics improved ocular surface disease scores in patients with dry eye disease. In this study, participants received a probiotic mix including a dose of 21 billion CFUs Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus probiotics.
Other research noted that a probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus can improve symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. This appears to occur because a healthy gut microbiota helps balance the body’s immune response.
Imbalances in the microbiota have also been linked to other eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration, autoimmune uveitis, and glaucoma.
In dry eye disease, researchers have discovered a significant increase in the Klebsiella oxytoca and Bacillus spp bacteria populations. Meanwhile, patients with Sjogren syndrome, an autoimmune condition known to cause dry eyes, have high Streptococcus and Candida counts and low counts of Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, and other bacteria.
The microbiota has also been associated with type 2 diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of dry eye disease and eye infections and that can lead to diabetic retinopathy, a potential cause of vision loss.
Good to know: Microbiota and microbiome are often used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. Microbiota in this context refers to living microorganisms in the gut. Microbiome, on the other hand, refers to all the microorganisms in the environment as well as the environmental conditions and substances needed for metabolism.
More research on the microbiota is needed to understand what specific strains of bacteria are the most beneficial for eye health. But the body of research currently available suggests that gut microbiome and eye health are closely connected.
In summary, too many of certain bacteria in the gut can affect eye health. On the other hand, certain bacterial strains appear to be beneficial for the eyes. A balanced microbiome could ward off eye disease and help keep your eyes healthy.
Eating probiotic foods and taking probiotic supplements can contribute to your overall health. With the current research findings in mind, probiotic treatments are most effective when they are personalized for each patient.
Since the microbiota can vary from person to person based on genetics, diet, environment, and other factors, targeted probiotic treatments will likely yield better results than general ones.
In other words, while taking probiotic supplements and eating probiotic foods is good, it’s important to manage expectations. These forms of treatment may not provide the specific bacterial strains that your eyes need.
When used to treat an eye disease, probiotic treatments should be discussed with an eye doctor. Your doctor may first perform tests to assess the biodiversity of your microbiota and then recommend a probiotic treatment that aims to increase the population of specific bacterial strains.
That said, you may still want to eat probiotic foods and take a probiotic supplement for general health. Look for a supplement that provides a varied selection of bacterial strains and has a high CFU count.
Probiotic foods you can eat include:
Good to know: Some probiotic foods have a high salt and/or high fat content. Enjoy them in moderation.
Probiotics promise to open a new avenue for the treatment of dry eye disease and other eye conditions. Gut health and eyesight are linked, and scientists are discovering more of these links.
Until probiotic treatments for dry eye disease become more prevalent, don’t forget that eye health supplements can also help keep your eyes healthy.
SightC is a natural superfood blend that brings together turmeric, goji berries, Cherokee rose, Chinese yams, and other ingredients long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It provides antioxidants and other nutrients that support eye health in the digital age.
Taken regularly, SightC may help provide relief from dry eye disease and other eye conditions.
Learn more about SightC Natural Dry Eye Supplement.]]>A few eye care tips can help reduce the risk of common eye conditions in children. Helping your children to follow these tips is one of the best things you can do for their eye health.
A 2021 study has linked prolonged screen time in children with a higher risk of myopia. Not only that, but the children with the most screen time were more likely to develop a more severe form of the condition.
The rise in myopia is a global epidemic and one of the major threats to vision loss. It has also been linked to dry eye disease because of the blinking pattern changes it causes.
Screens can also cause digital eye strain, a condition that can make your child’s eyes dry, red, and itchy.
Asking your child to just stop using their phone or watching TV isn’t the best idea. Rather, you want to create tech-free zones in your house, for example one day a week. Also, consider setting screen time limits, including no screens before bedtime.
A recent Taiwanese study investigated the effects of time spent outdoors on first grade school children. It found that children who spent 11 hours a week outdoors had a lower risk of developing myopia as well as a reduced risk of rapid myopia progression.
In the study, short exposure to intense sunlight was as effective as longer exposure to moderate sunlight such as under trees.
Good to know: Lack of sleep can also contribute to myopia. Learn more about the link between myopia, lack of sleep, and screen time.
A systematic review on outdoor exposure and myopia indicators suggests that sunlight exposure has multiple benefits for the eyes. It prevents eye elongation, regulates the sclera (the protective white covering of the eye), and supports refractive development by promoting the skin’s production of vitamin D.
Sunlight, in moderation, also contributes to overall health. It supports healthy bones and the immune system, and it improves mood.
Active children are less likely to put on extra weight. With that comes better overall health. Getting your kids to be active outdoors means that they will spend less time in front of screens and more time in the sun.
One of the best ways to get your kids to move more is to arrange outdoor events that you can join in. Hikes, sports, cycling, or long walks in the park are all great ways to keep your kids moving.
As we’ve seen, children need sunlight. But at the same time, children’s eyes are vulnerable to UV rays. Direct exposure to too much sun modifies lens proteins and can damage the eyes.
This damage is cumulative and insidious – it may not become apparent right away. But later in life it can lead to vision loss through cataracts or macular degeneration.
When buying sunglasses for your children, check that they provide at least 99% UV protection. It’s worth investing in a scratch-resistant, sturdy pair of sunglasses that can take a beating since they will likely be dropped sooner than later.
Good to know: Learn more about why you should wear sunglasses and discover the best types of sunglasses.
Children who often rub their eyes may be at a higher risk of suffering an eye infection. Children often touch all manner of surfaces during the day and may not always wash their hands.
Germs can easily get into the eye during the process of rubbing. What’s more, intensive rubbing could increase intraocular pressure and damage the surface of the eye.
If your child often rubs their eyes, it could be a sign that they have developed an eye condition such as dry eye or digital eye strain.
Children should get an eye exam every two years, or more often if they have an eye condition. A comprehensive eye exam doesn’t take long and is painless.
It can help uncover common refractive errors, more serious conditions like amblyopia, as well as any underlying causes for eye fatigue or dry eye disease (also known as dry eye syndrome).
Dry eye syndrome in children can occur because of underlying medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases like Sjogren syndrome or juvenile idiopathic arthritis, congenital disorders, or ocular allergies.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that screens are a risk factor for pediatric dry eye disease. Vitamin A deficiency, whether due to malnutrition, restrictive diets, or eating disorders may also contribute to dry eye disease in kids.
Dry eye symptoms in children include frequent eye rubbing, stinging, itching, burning, and a dry sensation in the eye. Frequent eye rubbing can often be a telltale sign of dry eye disease in children.
Eye injuries are a common cause of temporary and sometimes permanent vison loss. They often occur during sports and other forms of outdoor play that children engage in. Many sports injuries can be prevented using simple protective eyewear.
Grab a pair of protective eyewear that your kid enjoys wearing. If your child is small, you could even invent a superpower around the glasses to encourage them to wear them more.
Tell them that whenever they put them on, they grow a little taller, a little stronger. Or that when they use it, they move faster.
Good to know: Eye injuries can happen when you least expect them. Read our guide to eye injuries to be prepared for an eye emergency, however unlikely.
Fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants that protect the eyes from free radicals that occur naturally or as a result of pollution and UV damage. Blueberries and carrots are just two examples of great foods for the eyes – encourage your children to eat them regularly.
Also, fatty fish like salmon has omega-3 fatty acids that promote the function of the tear glands.
At the same time, you want to make sure that your child eats as little processed food and junk food as possible. These are devoid of nutrients and loaded with unhealthy fats and calories that contribute to weight gain and may promote inflammation in the body.
Systemic inflammation has been associated with age-related macular degeneration, dry eye disease, and other eye diseases.
A healthy diet with plenty of nutrients is important for your children’s eyes to stay healthy. However, getting children to eat enough fruits and vegetables while avoiding junk food can be challenging to say the least.
An eye health supplement like SightVita Kids Gummies can help. Formulated for children and teens, these gummies provide vitamins A, C, D, zinc, beta carotene, and other nutrients that support vision health and could help prevent dry eyes in children. They have a delicious orange flavor and are easy to take at home or at school.
Keep your kids’ eyes healthy with SightVita Kids Gummies.
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Today, we look at the early signs of severe dry eye and talk about some of the more subtle severe dry eye symptoms. First, though, let’s review the causes of severe dry eye.
Severe dry eye can occur as a development of untreated dry eye disease, also known as dry eye syndrome. It may also have specific triggers. Some people can go on to develop severe dry eyes even if they manage dry eye syndrome accordingly.
Common causes leading to severe dry eye include medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, medications such as antihistamines and antidepressants, hormonal changes induced by menopause or pregnancy, eye surgery, and environmental factors like wind, dust, and smoke.
Using digital devices for extended periods can also play a role in the development of the condition. We dedicated an entire post to the causes of severe dry eye – you may want to read it to find out more.
Most of the time, severe dry eye won’t occur overnight. It will announce itself through milder symptoms. Paying attention to these symptoms is important to catch the condition early and treat it effectively.
Dryness or grittiness in the eye is one of the characteristic dry eye symptoms. In the case of severe dry eye disease, it’s more pronounced and more persistent than for mild to moderate dry eyes.
So much so that it may cause serious discomfort and even pain. Rather than coming and going, it can last for most of the day and interfere with the close work that you do. Waking up with very dry eyes is also common.
Severe eye dryness occurs because of insufficient tears or an unbalanced tear film that fails to protect and lubricate the surface of your eyes. It can occur in the case of both evaporative dry eye and aqueous dry eyes.
When you’re living with severe dry eyes, your tear glands may produce very few tears. As a result, the surface of your eye may become very dry.
So it’s only natural that you may feel the constant urge to reach out for the bottle with artificial tears. The persistent dryness associated with dry eye disease may even make you dependent on artificial tears.
Unfortunately, artificial tears are not necessarily the answer. Some studies show that the long-term use of artificial tears may not always improve dry eye symptoms. It may even make dry eyes worse.
A burning sensation in the eye can be another sign that your dry eye has become severe. This can be a bothering sensation that makes you want to keep rubbing your eyes.
Some patients with severe dry eye syndrome also experience bothering irritation and redness. This can occur in both eyes or be more persistent in one eye.
Irritation and redness happen when tears don’t lubricate the surface of your eye properly. It may also be a reaction to the use of artificial tears. Even tears meant to soothe dry eyes can cause irritation.
It may sound like a contradiction, but severe eye dryness can cause reflex tearing. This means that even if your eyes feel dry, they could still water constantly.
For your eyes to be properly lubricated, your tear film needs to be balanced, containing water, oil, and mucin layers. In excessive tearing, the tears may have a predominantly watery content. This means that despite their volume, they won’t lubricate your eyes properly.
Reflex tearing can be more pronounced with severe dry eye disease. It may also feel like you’re crying when your eyes are in fact very dry.
Good to know: We wrote a post on what causes watery eyes. Check it out to learn more.
Some people with severe dry eyes also experience constant blurriness. This may be bad enough that it makes it difficult to read or work on a computer.
Blurriness in dry eye disease can be the result of excessive tearing and irritation from the use of eye drops. In rare cases, severe dry eye disease can lead to scratches on the cornea.
When there are not enough tears to wash away small particles on the surface of the eye, these may cause abrasions on the cornea. This can result in dry eye related blurriness and vision loss.
All forms of dry eye can make it unpleasant to wear contact lenses. But severe dry eyes can make wearing contacts particularly annoying. When you have severe eye dryness, it’s best to swamp your contact lenses for eyeglasses.
This will allow the surface of your eyes to breathe. Oxygen has to reach the surface of your eyes for your tear film to be replenished. Contact lenses cover the surface of your eyes, preventing oxygen from reaching it.
Tip: Learn more about managing dry eye while wearing contact lenses and how to choose contact lenses for dry eyes.
Treating severe dry eye is crucial to soothing symptoms and reducing the risk of complications that can lead to vision loss. Eye health supplements can be an effective part of this treatment.
Natural plant-based supplements like SightC and Blueberry Gummies provide nutrients that can nourish your eyes and tear glands. The antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients in these supplements support eye health and promote a healthy and balanced tear film. And since they are diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, and suitable for vegans, you can take them regardless of your diet.
SightC and Blueberry Gummies are now available as part of the Severe Dry Eye Relief Bundle. This bundle was designed to provide you with enough capsules and gummies to last you a month.
Try now the Severe Dry Eye Relief Bundle.]]>Dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome occurs when there is an imbalance in the oily or watery layers that make up the tear film, or when your tear glands don’t produce enough tears. The tear film lubricates and protects the surface of your eyes throughout the day, including at night while you sleep.
Air conditioning cools the air and, by doing so, removes moisture from it. The cooler the air in an office or classroom, the less vapor it contains.
Your eyes need moisture to remain hydrated. Without this moisture, they may start to feel dry, gritty, and uncomfortable. In other words, air conditioning systems can disrupt the watery component of your tear film.
It’s important to note that air conditioning units don’t have to blow air directly into your eyes for your tear film to be affected. Simply spending time in an air-conditioned room can have bad effects on your eyes.
A 2020 study investigated the effects of air conditioning on healthy young adults between 20 and 30 years of age. Researchers found that only 1 hour in an air conditioned room significantly increased tear evaporation.
A previous study on “office eye syndrome” found that frequent dry eye complaints increased by up to 48% among hospital staff working in air-conditioned rooms.
Air conditioning can be one of the primary dry eye disease causes. It can also be one of multiple dry eyes causes alongside extended screen time, nutritional deficiencies, wearing contact lenses, age, and gender (women are more prone to develop dry eyes than men).
Air conditioning can also exacerbate existing dry eyes. For example, you may develop dry eyes because you have to work on a computer for hours every day and don’t have enough time to cook meals containing all the nutrients that your eyes need to stay healthy.
To reduce the risk of dry eye in an office or another indoor space, it’s important to control the temperature and humidity if possible. A 2023 study on the environment and dry eyes suggests that the temperature should be set between 20-25°C and the humidity levels between 30-50%.
An air filtration system should also be in place to reduce pollutants and improve air quality. What’s more, air filters need to be replaced regularly.
If dry eyes is a problem in your office, you may want to discuss adjusting these settings with your office manager. Research shows that dry eyes can reduce work productivity, so everyone has to gain from a constructive discussion on this topic.
Here are a few other things you can do to reduce the risk of dry eye disease in an office or classroom. Even if you already have developed dry eyes, these suggestions may help improve dry eye symptoms.
Having a vent or fan blow air into your face can feel great on a hot day. But it can make dry eye symptoms worse in no time.
Change your position at the desk, move the desk, or redirect the vent if possible. Working too close to an air conditioning vent can be bad not only for your eyes but for your airways, ears, and even your skin.
As we’ve seen, air conditioning dries up the air in a room. A humidifier can increase the moisture level in the air. Some advanced air conditioning systems have integrated humidifiers. But even so, you may want to consider using a personal humidifier if possible.
This can come in the form of a small, portable device that you fill with water and plug into your computer’s USB port. It works by vaporizing the water to create more humidity around you. An aromatherapy device works in the same way, but you may want to avoid using essential oils as they may irritate your eyes.
Contact lenses promote dry eyes by sticking to the surface of your eyes and reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches it – your eyes need oxygen to produce tears.
Glasses have the added benefit that they can reduce the amount of air from air conditioned systems that reaches your eyes.
If you don’t need to correct your vision, you can use eyeglasses with a clear lens or try computer glasses with a blue light filter.
Tip: If you must wear contacts, make sure to choose the right contact lenses for dry eyes.
Water is one of the essential components of the tear film. Your eyes need to stay hydrated work well -- dehydration can cause dry eyes.
In an air conditioned office, it may be challenging to drink enough liquids, especially if you forget yourself in your work. And when you do, you’re likely to reach out for a cup of coffee or tea, both of which contain caffeine that dehydrates you.
Make it a habit to drink water regularly. Bring water with you if you have to and bring a glass too. Leave them where you can see them so that they will act as prompts for you to drink water more often.
A natural eye health supplement like SightC or Blueberry Gummies supports eye health in the digital age. Providing antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, and vitamins and minerals, these plant-based, diabetes-friendly supplements nourish your eyes with nutrients that may be lacking from your diet.
Now available as part of the Mild Dry Eye Relief Bundle, these supplements nourish your eyes and support the functioning of your tear glands. At the same time, they help soothe existing dry eye symptoms.
What’s more, they are easy to take – drop them in a bag or backpack and take them with your at the office.
Learn more about the Mild Dry Eye Relief Bundle.
Air conditioning can trigger dry eyes or make dry eye symptoms worse. But there are several things you can do to mitigate its effects on your eyes.
Over 16 million Americans have dry eye disease, a condition that affects increasingly more young people. Dry eye disease is often underdiagnosed, so this number may be even higher.
Common mild dry eye symptoms include a dry, scratchy, or burning sensation in your eyes, red eyes, and blurry vision. These symptoms can be nagging enough to reduce your productivity and get in the way of everyday life.
Today, we look at some of the most effective mild dry eye treatments for your eyes. But first, it’s important to remember what causes dry eyes.
Mild dry eye causes range from wearing contact lenses to not getting enough vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids from your diet. Taking certain medications, having an autoimmune condition like Sjogren’s, or being over 50 years of age also increases your risk of developing the condition.
So does being female – blame it on hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause, using screens for extended periods, working in windy or air-conditioned environments, smoking, and drinking alcohol.
It’s also possible to experience mild dry eye in one eye only. This may happen if one of your eyes is exposed to wind or smoke, or if the tear gland over it doesn’t work as it should.
Unlike more serious forms of the condition, mild dry eye disease is easier to treat. You may be able to prevent it by recognizing and avoiding certain triggers.
Like many people experiencing dry eye symptoms, you may be tempted to reach out for a bottle with over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears. However, medical research shows that artificial tears are not always the answer.
The good news is that there are several convenient mild dry eye treatment tips you can try at home. These tips may not address the underlying cause of the condition – if you’re experiencing constant dry eyes, it’s good to see an eye doctor.
That said, these at-home tips can provide quick relief and allow you to work on your computer and go through the day without the discomfort that dry eye disease can cause.
Whether you’ve just developed dry eyes or have been living with dry eye syndrome for a while now, these practical tips can provide relief.
A warm compress has multiple benefits for dry eyes. It hydrates your eyes and reduces tear evaporation.
It can also open up the meibomian glands over the eyes to improve tear flow. Applying a warm compress over your eyes at home for 10 minutes or longer is one of the best ways to soothe dry eyes.
A warm compress is easy to make. You can also make one with herbs such as chamomile or mint. Find out more about making a warm compress for dry eyes.
Heating and air conditioning systems can dry up indoor air and contribute to dry eye disease.
Consider using a humidifier if you don’t already. Even a small and portable USB-powered desk humidifier can help, especially since you can take it with you to work or while you travel.
Simply placing a pan of water near a heater is another way to add moisture to your room.
Tip: Find out more about how to keep your eyes healthy in an air conditioned office.
Do you wear contact lenses? They could be to blame for your dry eye symptoms. This occurs because the contact lens material limits the oxygen flow to your eyes, which makes it harder for your eyes to produce tears.
Switching to eyeglasses or simply taking your contacts off while you’re at home could bring relief. For more about contact lenses and dry eyes, check our post on managing dry eye while wearing contact lenses.
Also, some contact lenses are better for dry eyes than others. Find out more about how to choose contact lenses for dry eyes.
Using a computer or smartphone and watching TV reduces your blinking rate and leads to more incomplete blinks. This increases the risk of evaporative dry eye disease.
When it’s not possible to reduce your screen time because of work or studies, try to take constant screen breaks.
Every 20 minutes, close your eyes for at least 20 seconds to rest them. This will help spread the tear film over the surface of your eyes.
Is excessive screen time a problem for you? Discover some effective ways to reduce your screen time.
A study involving over 32,000 women found that women who ate the most omega-3 fatty acids from fish had a 17% lower risk of developing dry eye disease. More specifically, this referred to women who had 5 or more servings of tuna (1 serving was 85-113 grams).
By contrast, women who ate foods with a higher ratio of omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids had a higher risk of developing the condition.
Interestingly, another study found that fish oil supplements did not improve dry eye symptoms. So you’re better off eating fish and other seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
An eye health supplement may need a few days or longer to improve your symptoms depending on what’s causing your condition. It works by providing nutrients to your eyes and tear glands that may be lacking from your diet. The truth is that the Western diet isn’t the healthiest for the eyes.
The Mild Dry Eye Relief Bundle combines the power of the SightC superfood blend with Blueberry Gummies, a tasteful treat for your eyes.
Made from natural ingredients, the dry eye relief bundle was formulated to support eye health in the digital age. It’s also sugar-free and diabetes-friendly.
Keep your eyes happy and healthy with the Mild Dry Eye Relief Bundle.
In addition to the mild dry eye treatment tips above, here are a few other things you can do to soothe your eyes:
If left untreated, mild dry eye disease can become more severe over time. This leads to more pronounced symptoms that last longer. Severe dry eye syndrome may even damage the surface of your eye over time, leading to vision loss.
For all these reasons, it’s important to not only address your dry eye symptoms early but to look into what may be causing your condition. As we’ve seen, multiple causes may be at play, from autoimmune conditions and poor diet to environmental factors.
The good news is that when you understand what’s causing your dry eyes and start looking after your eyes better, you can ward off not only dry eyes but other eye conditions and boost your overall eye health.
In the end, dry eyes are often a sign that your eyes need a bit more care and attention than they are getting.
]]>Not really. While the two conditions may come with a few similar symptoms, they affect your eyes in different ways. But there is a link between the two.
In this post, we explain how cataracts and dry eyes are connected, even if the connection is an indirect one.
Dry eyes and cataracts are different eye conditions. They affect different parts of your eye. But is there a link between the two? To answer this, let’s first understand what these conditions are exactly.
Cataracts affect your eye’s natural lens. It occurs when the proteins in your lens break down and clump together. This makes your lens clouded and blocks light from reaching your retina.
You will experience a range of symptoms, like glare, halos, and blurry vision. Eventually, you will have to undergo cataract surgery to restore your vision.
Dry eye syndrome, on the other hand, affects your cornea. It comes with a decrease in the quality and quantity of your tears, making your eyes feel dried out.
If you have dry eyes, you will experience eye redness, irritation, itching, and discomfort. And yes, blurry vision will follow shortly.
There isn’t a direct cause-and-effect link between dry eyes and cataracts. But both conditions can coexist.
That said, if you have dry eyes, you may also develop certain cataract symptoms, like foggy or fuzzy vision. On the other hand, cataract surgery can trigger dry eye symptoms.
What’s more, certain factors, like age, diabetes, and smoking can lead to both cataracts and dry eyes.
Dry eyes does not cause cataracts. But if left untreated, it can lead to infection, inflammation, and ulcers in your cornea. In turn, these can make your vision blurry and even cause eyesight issues.
Even in the worst-case scenario, however, dry eye syndrome does not affect your eye lens. So, it is safe to say that dry eye is not a contributing factor to cataracts.
With that in mind, dry eyes can come with certain cataract-like symptoms such as blurriness. When your vision turns blurry, you will also find yourself squinting more to focus better.
If you’re using eye drops to treat dry eyes, make sure to check the label. Corticosteroid, a common ingredient in many eye drops, can increase the risk for cataracts.
In some cases, cataracts can trigger dry eyes. This can happen both before and after your cataract surgery.
Before surgery, you will experience vision changes that can disrupt your tear film and cause dryness. After surgery, dry eye symptoms will be more pronounced. A 2019 study found that 42% of patients develop dry eyes after cataract surgery.
Let’s take a closer look at how cataracts can indirectly lead to dry eye syndrome.
Cataracts cause the clouding of your eye’s lens, which leads to blurry or hazy vision. Because of this, you’re likely to blink more frequently or squint your eyes to improve your focus.
Doing so may disrupt the normal distribution of tears over your eyes. This will turn your eyes dry, red, irritated, and itchy.
Cataract surgery and dry eyes are linked. Eye surgery can disrupt your tear film and damage your corneal nerves. This will cause temporary dryness.
What’s more, cataract surgery involves the removal of the cloudy lens and its replacement with an artificial lens. This may lead to changes in your eye’s structure and cause your tear film to break up more quickly.
Before and after cataract surgery, your doctor may prescribe certain medicated eye drops. These eye drops help manage pain and swelling but can worsen your dry eyes.
For example, if you’re using antibiotic steroid eye drops and pain relievers, you risk getting dry and irritated eyes. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider before using these.
Surgical incisions during cataract surgery can cause inflammation. Since inflammation can affect the normal functioning of your oil and tear glands, it will decrease healthy tear production.
Got dry eyes before cataract surgery? Better fix the symptoms first. Here’s why:
While dry eyes after cataract surgery is temporary, it’s best to get started early with your post-surgery treatment plan. This will improve your dry, gritty, and painful symptoms and offer quick relief.
The simple go-to option is making lifestyle tweaks. Rest your eyes, stay away from digital screens, and put on sunglasses to shield your eyes from dry wind.
You can also keep yourself hydrated, focus on a balanced diet, and avoid smoke and alcohol. In addition, apply warm compresses to relieve post-surgery inflammation and keep the oils in your tear film flowing.
Cataracts and dry eyes are indirectly linked. Certain dry eye medications can increase your risk of cataracts. On the other hand, post-surgery dry eyes is common in cataract patients. Blame it on tear film disruption, medicated eye drops, and inflammation.
The good news? Dry eyes after cataract surgery is only temporary. Also, one condition does not directly lead to the other.
Do your eyes feel very dry and gritty? Whether or not you've recently undergone cataract surgery, a natural eye health supplement can provide your eyes and tear glands with the nutrients they need to recover.
The Severe Dry Eye Relief Bundle from Sightsage brings together Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies and SightC capsules. Packed with lutein, zeaxanthin, anthocyanins, and other antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, the dry eye relief bundle nourishes your eyes and supports vision health in the digital age.
Learn more about the Severe Dry Eye Relief Bundle.]]>But the list doesn’t end here. Some women also experience dry eye symptoms during their monthly cycle. Blame it on hormonal fluctuations that disrupt the normal functioning of the oil and tear glands.
The result? Dry, gritty, and puffy eyes even as you’re enduring stomach cramps and shoveling down chocolate ice cream.
But what’s the link between your menstrual cycle hormones and dry eye syndrome? In this post, we’ll help you understand that as well as the other causes of why women are more prone to having dry eyes than men.
From periods to pregnancy and menopause, women’s hormones, especially estrogen, are constantly fluctuating. Estrogen takes care of the development and maintenance of the female reproductive system. It plays a role in your tear production too.
But as with everything, balance is key. Research shows that the rise in estrogen affects your eyes and can leave them feeling dried out. High estrogen suppresses the function of your tear glands. This causes inflammation, a decrease in tear production, and surface dryness.
Your monthly cycle comes with surges and dips in estrogen. So, be prepared to experience symptoms like dry, puffy, and irritated eyes off and on.
That said, not every day of your period will make your eyes dry. Some days will be better, some worse.
Your menstrual cycle has various overlapping phases:
It’s important to note that not all women experience dry eyes during the different menstrual cycle phases. Some women find that their symptoms are worse when estrogen levels are low. Dry eyes is also influenced by other factors like health conditions, diet, and lifestyle.
Did you know that women are twice as likely as men to get dry eyes? There are several reasons for this, apart from your monthly cycle. These include pregnancy, menopause, use of birth control pills, and more.
If you’re taking birth control pills, you probably know that they may come with dry eye side effects. That’s because these pills contain synthetic hormones, generally a combination of estrogen and progestin.
When you take birth control pills, your body’s hormone balance is disrupted. As a result, your eyes will feel dry and irritated.
Birth control pills are just one of a dozen medications that can cause dry eyes.
Your body goes through a rollercoaster ride during pregnancy. You will experience a significant increase in estrogen levels. This increase can affect the normal functioning of your tear glands. Dry and gritty eyes will most likely follow first.
Morning sickness and vomiting in early pregnancy can lead to dehydration. Since your tear film is partly composed of water, dehydration can also cause dry eye symptoms.
In stark contrast to dehydration, some women retain fluids during pregnancy. This affects the tissues in and around the eyes and leads to puffiness and dryness.
During menopause, your estrogen production goes down. This leads to changes in your tear film, whose quantity and quality decreases.
Menopause typically occurs after the age of 45 according to the World Health Organization. As you age, your risk of developing dry eyes increases. This combination of age-related factors and hormonal changes also contributes to dry eye symptoms in women.
Females are more prone to negative emotions than males. According to a 2022 study, they tend to experience more frequent bouts of stress and anxiety.
But what has that got to do with dry eyes? There is a connection and a strong one at that. Findings from a 2023 study suggest that stress and anxiety can significantly increase your risk of developing dry eye syndrome.
Pregnancy, menopause, and even your periods can bring important changes to your lifestyle by altering your sleep pattern, diet, and stress levels.
For instance, you may have sudden cravings for chocolate and sugary drinks. The problem is that artificial sugars affect your eye health and may indirectly contribute to dry eyes.
In addition to hormones, your eye makeup may also be the hidden culprit behind your dry eyes. Products like mascara, eyeshadow, and eyeliner can easily flake and cause irritation. Removing these involves rubbing the delicate skin around your eyes, worsening the irritation.
What’s more, certain ingredients in your makeup can also trigger an allergic reaction. To say nothing about using expired or contaminated products.
Tip: Check out our makeup tips for dry and sensitive eyes.
When your periods are responsible for your dry eyes, it’s best to address both your dry eye disease and hormonal changes.
Being a woman during the menstruation cycle isn’t a walk in the park. Cramps and mood swings aside, your eyes often bear the real brunt of your periods.
They may turn dry, gritty, and inflamed. The severity and duration of these symptoms depend on the specific phase of your menstruation cycle. When the estrogen levels peak, your symptoms are generally worse.
Other factors, like stress during your periods, poor sleep, dehydration, and alcohol consumption can make things more difficult.
But don’t worry. If dry eye symptoms come and go during your menstrual cycle, there are ways to manage them too. Eye massages, drinking plenty of water, getting proper sleep, and meditating are your friends.
]]>In this post, we take a closer look at moderate dry eye disease as well as how it differs from other stages of dry eye.
Moderate dry eye syndrome, also known as moderate dry eye, is a condition that affects the eye’s ability to lubricate itself effectively. If you have moderate dry eye disease, you might have one or more of the following symptoms:
Talking about dry eye disease in stages might make it sound a little frightening. It’s important to understand that dry eye is usually not serious.
Referring to dry eye in its different stages allows an eye doctor to prescribe effective treatment. Moderate and mild dry eye may seem alike, but they have their differences.
Mild dry eye is characterized by milder symptoms – often dry, itchy eyes. Someone with mild dry eye may find the need to rub their eyes or blink often.
Overall, the eyes will feel a little irritated and dry. Diagnosing and treating dry eye during this stage can prevent a patient from developing moderate dry eye symptoms.
Moderate dry eye symptoms are more intense and more persistent than mild dry eye symptoms. They may not go away right away but worsen during the day.
Most of the time, dry eye at any stage affects both eyes. Despite this, you can develop dry eye in only one eye. You might experience moderate dry eye in one eye for a variety of reasons:
It’s worth noting that in some cases both eyes are affected though it doesn’t feel like it. You might experience moderate dry eye symptoms in one of your eyes, but only mild symptoms in the other. This gives the illusion of dry eye in one eye.
One of the most common moderate dry eye causes is aging. As we grow older, we naturally produce fewer tears. But moderate dry eye doesn’t only affect the older population – many younger people also experience it. To understand this, we need to look at the eye itself.
Each person’s eyes have a layer on their surface (the cornea) known as the tear film. The tear film consists of three layers: the aqueous layer, the mucus layer, and the oily layer. These layers combine to allow the tears to stick to the eye surface, evaporate at an effective rate, and lubricate the cornea.
Each time we blink, we spread tears over the cornea. Blinking also thickens the tear film. Between blinks, the tear film naturally begins to break up. The amount of time this takes is what we call Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT). Doctors use this to diagnose dry eye as well as the severity of it.
In a normal, healthy eye TBUT takes more than 10 seconds. When you have moderate dry eye, TBUT is between 4 and 7 seconds. The more severe the dry eye, the less time it takes for the tear film to break up.
Although age plays a large part in causing dry eye, there are many other factors. These include:
Although moderate dry eye can be uncomfortable, there is some good news. In most cases, it can be prevented. Spotting your symptoms while they’re mild and reacting to them goes a long way to preventing moderate or more severe dry eye.
Some of the ways you can prevent or lower your risk of moderate dry eye include:
There are a variety of ways to treat moderate dry eye. You can even use some easy home remedies.
Again, treating dry eye is most effective when the symptoms are only mild. Doing this can prevent moderate or even severe dry eye.
If your moderate dry eye symptoms have an underlying physiological cause, your doctor would recommend a targeted treatment for the cause. This may include medicines called cholinergics that stimulate natural tears, closing or plugging the tear ducts, or unblocking the oil glands.
Most of the time, moderate dry eye treatment is simpler and can be done at home. For more persistent dry eye treatment, eye drops without added preservatives could help. Added preservatives can irritate the eyes over time, leading to worsening symptoms.
Some of the preventive measures we already mentioned can double as simple home treatments. Good air quality, eye rest, and a healthy diet can often do wonders.
Perhaps the simplest home treatment is placing a warm compress over your eyes for 5-10 minutes. Doing this daily helps lower inflammation.
An alternative treatment that might also work is acupuncture. A study into the effects of acupuncture on dry eye has shown it can reduce symptoms.
You may also want to consider taking an eye health supplement for dry eyes. The Moderate Dry Eye Relief Bundle from Sightsage was formulated to provide relief from dry eyes and eye fatigue.
Bringing together Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies and SightC capsules, it’s rich in antioxidants including the macular pigments lutein and zeaxanthin as well as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Together, these nourish your eyes and tear glands and support vision health in the digital age.
Try now the Moderate Dry Eye Relief Bundle.
Moderate dry eye can be irritating. It can affect the quality of everyday life and reduce your productivity. Over time, it can become more severe if left untreated.
Even if your dry eye symptoms are only mild, it’s important not to ignore them. Addressing them early can prevent them from worsening.
Even if the underlying cause of dry eyes is a condition that requires medical treatment, catching it early can help steer the course of your condition and provide relief from symptoms.
In the end, it’s important to remember that managing dry eyes is under your control. Don’t let the condition become worse than it is.
]]>Diabetes also comes with the risk of dry eye disease. That means your eyes may feel like there’s sand in them even when you haven’t even visited the beach.
As strange as this connection sounds, there are several reasons why diabetes causes dry eyes. In this post, we’ll cover these causes as well as management strategies to help you overcome diabetes-related dry eyes. Read on.
Put simply, diabetes is chronically high blood sugar levels. It occurs when your body either cannot produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar) or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
There are two common types of diabetes:
Diabetes comes with a range of eye-related complications like retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. It also affects the functioning of your eye’s tear and oil-producing glands. As a result, what you have in store is dry eye syndrome.
A whopping 54% of people with diabetes have dry eye disease, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Nerve damage, inflammation, and metabolic changes are some common ill-effects of high blood sugar levels. These often cause dysfunction of your lacrimal (tear) and meibomian (oil) glands.
When that happens, the quantity and quality of your tears deteriorate. You begin to experience early stage diabetes dry eyes symptoms, like frequent dryness, pain, and floaters.
If you have diabetes, be on the lookout for these dry eye symptoms. Chances are, most of these may affect you from time to time.
Insulin plays a key role in the normal functioning of your tear and oil-producing glands. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes lead to inadequate insulin levels in your body.
What you have in store are several issues like neuropathy, chronic inflammation, hyperosmolarity, and more. Directly or indirectly, these are the major culprits behind diabetes and dry eyes.
With diabetes, you’re at an increased risk of diabetic neuropathy. That’s when prolonged high blood sugar damages nerves throughout your body. Your eyes are not safe from the effects of this condition either.
When your corneal nerves are affected, you have a reduced tear reflex, making your eyes more prone to dryness. You may also have blurriness and floaters.
Chronic inflammation is common when you have diabetes. That’s because elevated blood sugar levels trigger an inflammatory response in your body. And with inflammation comes dry eye disease.
Inflammation disrupts the normal functioning of your lacrimal and meibomian glands. This disruption leads to reduced tear production and instability in your tear film.
Diabetes causes metabolic changes in your body. In turn, these changes alter the composition and stability of your tear film.
They affect the oily, watery, and mucous layers of your tears. Your poor quality tears evaporate quickly, making your eyes more prone to dryness and discomfort.
Elevated blood sugar levels in diabetes can lead to the hyperosmolarity of tears. When that happens, your blood draws water out of other organs to dilute the sugar to normal levels.
Your tear film may fall victim to this phenomenon. Hyperosmolarity will dry out your eyes and may cause unpleasant dry eye symptoms.
Diabetes can lead to vascular (blood vessel) changes too. This includes damage to the vessels that supply blood to your tear and oil-producing glands.
Reduced blood flow to these glands can compromise their function. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise if you have dry eye symptoms, like grittiness, pain, and excessive tearing (watery eyes) to compensate for the dryness.
Certain medications may also be to blame for your dry eyes. For example, diuretics and certain blood pressure medications that may be prescribed to diabetes patients can have side effects that exacerbate dry eye symptoms.
If you think your common diabetes medication is causing dry eyes, talk to your healthcare provider. They may be able to adjust your treatment plan to alleviate dry eye issues.
When you have diabetes-related dry eyes, you need to follow a two-step plan. This involves addressing both the underlying diabetes and the specific symptoms of dry eye disease.
Elevated blood sugar levels can alter your tear composition, increase the osmolarity of tears, damage your blood vessels, and cause inflammation. Controlling your blood sugar is an effective way to address all these issues.
Make sure you follow the recommended diet for diabetes. Monitor your carbohydrate intake and limit added sugars.
Pay attention to what you eat and when, especially since type 2 diabetes symptoms include increased hunger and thirst.
Walking, swimming, cycling, basically any form of physical activity is great for managing your diabetes. It will help improve insulin sensitivity and promote stable blood sugar levels.
But that’s not all. Research shows that exercising is also good for your dry eye symptoms. It primarily works to reduce inflammation in your eyes. That will help your tear and oil glands function more effectively.
Lifestyle changes, like stress management, healthy sleep, and limiting alcohol consumption can help with your diabetic eyes symptoms. In turn, these will keep your dry eyes in check.
In addition, maintain proper eye hygiene, keep yourself hydrated, and avoid smoke and dry environments. Do this and you may experience a noticeable difference in your dry eye symptoms.
Metabolic changes due to diabetes can affect nutrient absorption. As a result, your body may become deficient in certain trace elements and minerals.
For instance, a 2020 study shows that a subgroup of diabetic patients have zinc and magnesium deficiencies. These are essential for maintaining good eye health.
An eye health supplement can also help. SightC is a natural superfood blend that provides your eyes with antioxidants like lutein, zeaxanthin as well as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that your eyes need to stay healthy in the digital age.
Keep your eyes healthy and happy with SightC.
If you have diabetes, inflammation can’t be far behind. One way to alleviate inflammation that affects your eyes is to use a warm compress. It's easy to make and can soothe dry eye symptoms.
If the inflammation doesn’t subside, your doctor may recommend the use of anti-inflammatory medications. These generally contain corticosteroids.
Certain practices can have bad effects on your eyes and worsen the dryness. For instance, using digital devices for long hours can alter your blinking pattern and make your eyes feel dried out.
Similarly, certain practices can alleviate your eye dryness. You can improve humidity levels in your living space, wear sunglasses while being out to keep wind and dust at bay, and avoid eye makeup. These may be small steps, but they can lead to positive changes.
Diabetes makes your eyes dry and sandy. But it doesn’t stop there. It’s also responsible for a number of other eye problems like retinopathy, macular edema, and blepharitis.
While it’s true that living with diabetes is not easy, you don’t have to endure the pain of dry eyes either.
The best approach is to first manage your blood sugar levels. Doing so will decrease your risk of neuropathy, inflammation, metabolic and vascular changes, and hyperosmolarity of tears.
In addition, you can also make physical exercises a part of your everyday life. Together with adequate sleep, a balanced diet, and proper hydration, you will be on your way to managing diabetes-related dry eyes.]]>That’s because dry eye syndrome is generally chronic and progressive. It tends to worsen over time and interfere with your day-to-day activities.
In this post, we cover the length and breadth of mild vs moderate vs severe dry eyes. Understanding the subtle differences between each will help you effectively overcome the condition.
Mild dry eyes is the early onset of dry eye disease. It comes with mild symptoms that generally go away on their own.
The first signs of mild dry eyes include occasional dryness and discomfort. While these signs aren’t serious, it’s best to monitor and treat them before they worsen over time.
Dry eye symptoms during the initial stage are mild and temporary. You may experience all or most of the following:
Temporary and easily fixable factors, like environmental exposure and contact lens wear, are often to blame for mild dry eyes.
As your mild dry eye symptoms progress, they reach the second stage: moderate dry eyes. In this, you will experience more pronounced dryness. You will also have inflammation on the surface of your eyes, resulting in eye pain.
Moderate dry eyes comes with significant changes in your tear film stability leading to insufficient or poor quality tears. Poor quality tears evaporate quickly, leaving the surface of your eyes feeling dried out.
In addition to the worsening of dry, burning, and watering of the eyes, you will experience a range of other symptoms. Most noticeably, when you have moderate dry eyes, your eyes will become inflamed and your vision will turn blurry.
Most causes of moderate dry eyes are the same as mild dry eyes. But there are also certain chronic causes, such as autoimmune conditions and hormonal changes, that may lead to moderate dry eyes.
This is the third stage of dry eyes and comes with the most constant and severe symptoms. This is also the stage when you can’t afford to overlook your dry eyes any longer. Further delays might lead to vision-related issues.
Severe dry eyes can also impact your eye comfort and quality of life. You may have difficulty performing daily tasks such as reading and driving.
Severe dry eye symptoms take on an intense form. They are more painful than those in mild and moderate stages and also appear more frequently.
Severe dry eye syndrome is generally a result of neglected mild and moderate dry eyes. But there are also some causes, like surgical complications and neurological issues, that may trigger severe dry eyes directly.
Let’s now understand the key difference between mild, moderate, and severe dry eyes, based on the duration of symptoms, diagnosis, impact on vision, treatment approach, and more.
In mild dry eye cases, your symptoms are intermittent, and may come and go based on factors that exacerbate dryness. These symptoms last anywhere from a couple of hours to days.
Symptoms of moderate dry eye tend to be persistent. They may last for more extended periods, ranging from a few days to weeks.
Severe dry eye symptoms are typically constant. Without your intervention, they can persist for days, weeks, or even months.
Diagnosis for dry eye disease typically involves a combination of symptom assessment and clinical tests.
Mild dry eyes typically have a minimal impact on vision. So, you may experience only slight changes in vision after prolonged visual activities.
Moderate dry eyes can have a more noticeable impact on your vision. You may experience frequent and persistent blurriness. This can cause discomfort with tasks like reading, driving, or watching TV.
Severe dry eyes can significantly impact your vision. As the corneal scars and ulcers get worse, they can cause persistent blurriness. In extreme cases, research shows that the condition can also lead to vision loss.
It goes without saying that it’s easier to treat dry eyes during the initial stages than in the later stages. Mild and moderate dry eyes can be kept in check with a few home remedies and lifestyle changes.
Severe dry eye require a more aggressive treatment plan. You need a combination of home remedies and in-office procedures. You also need to address the underlying cause of your eye dryness to fully recover.
The treatment approach for dry eyes varies, depending on its severity and frequency.
Mild dry eye symptoms can be treated by applying a warm compress and massaging your eyelids to increase tear production. You can also avoid dry eye triggers like dry environments, overuse of contacts, and smoke.
Moderate dry eyes also benefit from the above treatment approach. In addition, you may need prescription eye drops or ointments. These will work to improve your tear film stability.
Severe dry eyes is a completely different case. You may require in-office procedures, like punctal plug application, device-based therapies, or surgery to remove blocked oil glands.
Dry eye syndrome is only as bad as you make it. Start addressing the condition when the first symptoms appear and you will have nothing to worry about. But ignore the symptoms and you will wreak havoc on your vision and eye health.
The reason is that dry eye syndrome is progressive and gets worse over time. So, before it advances to moderate and severe stages, fix it when it’s still mild and temporary.
An eye health supplement bundle can help you address dry eye disease during any stage. Combining SightC superfood capsules with delicious Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies, our eye health bundles nourish your eyes and tear glands with essential nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Choose an eye health bundle for you.]]>You may use artificial tears or seek home remedies for dry eyes. However, not all dry eye treatment options are effective. Some can even make your symptoms worse.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, we put together a list of the most common dry eye disease treatment mistakes. Be careful to avoid them.
Eye drops for dry eyes are artificial tears that mimic the way natural tears work. Eye drops may soothe dry eye symptoms in the short term, but long-term use of artificial tears can make dry eyes worse.
Research shows that artificial tears are not effective for all patients with dry eyes. What’s more, eye drops can wash away your natural tears and the moisturizers these contain.
Often, eye drops only provide relief from dry eye symptoms without addressing the underlying cause of the condition. One exception to this is when your doctor prescribes antibiotic eye drops to treat dry eyes resulting from an eye infection.
Some eye drops contain preservatives like benzalkonium chloride (BAK), which may irritate the eyes. BAK has also been associated with punctate keratitis and ulcerative keratitis, two conditions that may decrease vision.
Eye drops for redness can also make dry eyes worse. This occurs because these eye drops have chemicals that shrink blood vessels in your eyes.
So, when it comes to eye drops for dry eyes, it’s better to discuss their use with an eye doctor rather than buy them over the counter.
A long list of medications may cause dry eyes or worsen existing dry eyes. These medications include beta-blockers used for treating high blood pressure, tricyclic antidepressants, and antihistamines used for treating allergies.
While some of these medications are important and you shouldn’t skip them, taking antihistamines for mild allergies could cause more problems than they treat.
If you know your allergy triggers and can stay away from them, it may not be worth putting up with medication-induced dry eye symptoms. All the more so if your dry eyes is making it harder for you to work.
Good to know: We wrote a post on the difference between dry eyes and allergies.
Dry eyes can have many underlying causes from infections and inflammatory diseases to tear gland dysfunction and hormonal changes due to menopause or pregnancy.
For some of these causes, a medical dry eye syndrome treatment prescribed by a doctor can address the underlying problem. Even when a cure is not possible, targeted treatments may still improve symptoms in the long term.
Quick relief treatments like eye drops don’t target the underlying problem behind your condition.
This point follows from the previous one. Although dry eyes is often mild, it may be the result of a more serious underlying problem.
What’s more, dry eyes that is not treated properly may become in time chronic dry eye syndrome, a condition that can cause vision loss.
Simply following the latest treatment for dry eye syndrome available over the counter isn’t the best idea. If your dry eye is serious or doesn’t go away, it’s better to talk with an eye health specialist instead of self-medicating with over-the-counter eye drops or home remedies.
Good to know: We wrote a post about the pros and cons of dry eye treatments. Check it out.
Using a warm compress or tea bags for eyes can soothe dry eye symptoms. These and other home remedies for dry eyes are easy to use and inexpensive. They can complement ongoing treatment for dry eyes and could make you less dependent on eye drops.
However, it’s important to set realistic expectations before using home remedies. Yes, these remedies can improve symptoms and may make mild dry eyes go away. But in moderate to severe cases of dry eyes, or when the condition has an underlying cause, they don’t provide a cure.
A healthier approach is to consider taking a natural, plant-based supplement formulated to support vision health in the digital age, like SightC.
A powerful superfood blend, SightC provides antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients from goji berries, turmeric, and other ingredients backed by science.
Learn more about SightC and how it can help your eyesight.
Wearing contact lenses can dry out your eyes. This occurs because the contact lens that sits on your cornea (the transparent front part of the eye) limits the flow of oxygen to the eye. Your eye then struggles to produce enough tears.
When you have chronic dry eyes, switching to eyeglasses is a good idea. If you must wear contact lenses, you may want to read our post on how to choose contact lenses for dry eyes. In it, we take a closer look at contact lens material, water content, fit, and more to help you make an informed choice.
Sleep is essential for your overall health and your eyes. Poor sleep can decrease tear production and worsen dry eye symptoms. While your body can compensate for the occasional night out with friends, going to bed late regularly is one of the worst things you can do for your eyes.
We dedicated a post to the effects of lack of sleep on eyesight. You may want to check it out. We also shared sleep hygiene tips that can help you sleep better at night. As an adult, you should aim for at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
Working extensively on a computer or spending hours on your phone can alter your blinking pattern, leading to more incomplete blinks. This promotes dry eyes. Some studies have also found a harmful association between blue light emitted by screens and dry eyes.
If your work requires that you spend hours in front of a computer, take regular breaks. Make this a habit by setting a reminder on your computer or phone.
Every 20 minutes, look away 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds – the 20-20-20 rule. Or if your office setup doesn’t allow it, simply close your eyes for 20 minutes.
Your tear glands and eyes need water to work at their best. Dehydration has been linked with dry eyes, which is why it’s not a good idea to drink dehydrating drinks like coffee or black tea on a warm day.
Some sources say that you need to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. But a recent population-based study found that greater habitual water intake didn’t lower the risk of dry eye disease – on the contrary, it increased it.
So how much water should you drink? Your body will tell you – it’s important to listen to it. Signs of dehydration include lightheadedness, having a dry mouth, tiredness, and passing dark, strong-smelling urine.
You don’t have to limit yourself to water. Incorporate healthy water-based drinks in your diet like herbal infusions, lemonade, and smoothies.
Some foods can undermine vision health and increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease that can affect your eyes. Common culprits include foods with added sugar, foods high in saturated fats and unhealthy refined oils, and refined carbs like white bread and pasta.
When it comes to dry eyes, you want to avoid highly processed foods as these are low in nutrients. Soft drinks and candy, for example, do little for your eyes or overall health while filling you up with calories.
Tip: We wrote a post on the best foods for eye health. Check it out.
In the end, avoiding common dry eye syndrome treatment mistakes boils down to making healthy lifestyle choices and not overusing eye drops and other medications. Managing expectations when it comes to home remedies is also important.
]]>The most effective dry eye syndrome treatment depends on what’s causing your dry eyes in the first place. Resorting to the wrong treatment could only make your symptoms worse in the long run.
Today, we take a closer look at the pros and cons of dry eye treatments. But first, here’s a quick reminder of what dry eye syndrome is and what causes it.
Dry eye disease occurs when there’s an imbalance in the tear film that normally covers the surface of the eye, lubricating and protecting it. Common symptoms of dry eye disease include scratchy or gritty eyes, eye fatigue, soreness, burning, redness, blurriness, light sensitivity, and tearing.
The tear film consists of a watery component, an oily component, and a mucin component. Most dry eye cases are a form of evaporative dry eye, which occurs when the oily part of the tears is insufficient or of low quality. By contrast, aqueous dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough of the watery part of tears.
Everyone may have dry eyes now and then. But when symptoms occur constantly or last for weeks or longer, it can be a sign that you have developed dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye causes range from environmental factors like wind, air conditioning, and extended screen use to aging. Hormones, medication, certain diseases, eye surgery, and nutritional deficiencies may also lead to dry eyes.
Getting an accurate dry eye syndrome diagnosis is crucial to receiving the proper treatment for dry eye disease.
Tip: You can learn more about dry eye disease and its causes in our post on What Are Dry Eyes?
Dry eye disease treatments include eye drops, oral medication, punctal plugs, thermal cautery, and dry eye supplements.
Some dry eye disease treatments often focus on alleviating symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause of the condition. This is important to understand in order to manage expectations.
Next, let’s review the pros and cons of the most common dry eye treatments currently available.
Eye drops for dry eyes are also known as artificial tears, and for good reason. They are formulated to mimic the way natural tears work in lubricating the eye.
However, eye drops may have preservatives like benzalkonium chloride (BAK) to extend their shelf life. Long-term use of dry eye drops with preservatives can worsen dry eye symptoms.
Eye drops are not a dry eye syndrome cure – they only address the symptoms of the condition. Other treatments may prove more effective in the long run.
Pros
Cons
Good to know: One potential severe dry eye syndrome treatment is autologous blood serum drops. These drops are made from your own blood and mixed with a salt solution. Your eyes may tolerate them better than artificial tears.
Ointments for dry eyes come in a greasy, semisolid form that melts in contact with your eye. These ointments typically cling to the surface of your eye to soothe symptoms, remaining between it and the eyelid for a while.
Pros
Cons
Good to know: We wrote a post on the differences between eye drops vs eye ointments if you're not sure which to use.
Varenicline is a nasal spray recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This new treatment for dry eye syndrome works by stimulating natural tear production. Clinical research suggests that varenicline can quickly improve dry eye disease symptoms.
Pros
Cons
This dry eye disease treatment option applies gentle heat to your eyelids to unclog the oil glands. When dry eyes is the result of problems with the oily component of the tear film, warm compresses may help.
Pros
Cons
Eye inserts look like tiny transparent rods that you insert between your eye and lower eyelid. They dissolve slowly to release hydroxypropyl cellulose, a substance that is soluble in water and provides artificial tears which may relieve dryness and irritation.
Eye doctors may prescribe eye inserts as an alternative to tear drops for more serious dry eye cases.
Pros
Cons
When it comes to dry eye treatment, medication is also available. Medication for dry eyes can come in the form of tear-stimulating cholinergics.
Eye doctors also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to help manage inflammation caused by Sjogren’s syndrome and other autoimmune conditions that can lead to dry eyes. Medication for dry eyes is sometimes necessary when dry eyes is the result of an inflammatory disease or tear gland infection.
Pros
Cons
Punctal plugs are tiny plugs made from silicone or collagen that can partially or completely close your tear ducts to prevent tears from draining.
Eye doctors may recommend punctal plugs to treat chronic dry eye disease in patients for whom other treatments prove ineffective. Inserting these plugs is a non-invasive procedure performed by a doctor.
Pros
Cons
Thermal cautery is another established chronic dry eye syndrome treatment. During this procedure, heat is applied to your tear ducts to permanently close them. Your doctor may recommend this minimally invasive dry eye operation if punctal plugs don’t work.
Pros
Cons
IPL is a dry eye disease treatment for people with meibomian gland dysfunction backed by science. With this treatment, pulses of light safely destroy vascular structures in the eyelid to improve gland function. Multiple treatment options may be needed.
Pros
Cons
The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System is an FDA-approved treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Some medical literature suggests that as many as 86% of patients with dry eyes show signs of MGD.
During LipiFlow, an external device is applied to your eyes. This device sends gentle heat to your inner and outer eyelids while also massaging them. By doing so, it clears blocked glands to increase the oily component of the tear film.
Pros
Cons
TearCare is another thermal therapy for MGD that may provide relief from dry eye symptoms. During this procedure, single-use adhesive pads are applied to your eyelids.
These are controlled by software to provide heat therapy while you blink naturally. The heat therapy can melt away blockages in the meibomian glands to improve tear quality.
Some research suggests that TearCare can be more effective than other treatments for patients with severe MGD.
Pros
Cons
Nutrient deficiencies may lead to dry eye symptoms or worsen existing dry eyes. Vitamins A, C, D, E, B1, and B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin play a key role in supporting eye health.
An eye health supplement can help provide some of these nutrients. Even when the underlying cause of dry eye isn’t a nutrient deficiency, a supplement can support other dry eye treatments.
Pros
Cons
SightC is a superfood blend formulated to maintain eye health in the digital age. Packed with antioxidants and other nutrients from goji berries, turmeric, Cherokee rose and other superfoods, SightC can help nourish and protect your eyes.
Learn more about SightC.
In the end, each dry eye syndrome treatment has its advantages and disadvantages. That’s why it’s crucial to understand what causes your dry eyes and follow the most appropriate treatment.
To manage the condition effectively, dry eyes symptoms and treatment need to be in sync. Some dry eye patients will require more intense and more varied treatments than others.
With that in mind, certain dry eye treatments like applying a warm compress or taking a natural eye health supplement can help support any treatment your doctor may prescribe without the risk of side effects.
A holistic approach to treating dry eye disease that goes beyond using eye drops can help you safeguard your vision and keep your eyes healthy for years to come. It all starts with understanding your condition and what causes it.
]]>Although these conditions share similar symptoms, they are quite different. In this post, we take a deeper look at the differences between dry eyes vs. eye strain.
But first, let’s start with a quick reminder of the symptoms and causes of dry eyes and eye strain.
Dry eye syndrome, more commonly known as dry eyes, is a condition that affects the eye’s ability to lubricate itself using tears. The eye might be unable to produce tears.
Sometimes, the layers of tear film covering the eye might not operate well enough. When this happens, it renders the tears ineffective.
Changes to lifestyle and habits can often help treat dry eyes. However, people suffering from chronic dry eyes because of an underlying condition may need medical treatment.
Although it’s not usually difficult to treat the symptoms of dry eye syndrome, they can still vary in severity from person to person.
While most symptoms can be a minor nuisance, some can be unpleasant. If you suffer from dry eyes, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Often, dry eyes is the result of preventable lifestyle risk factors like working in air-conditioned environments or spending long hours in front of screens.
However, it’s possible for the underlying cause of dry eyes to be an underlying condition. Below are some common causes of dry eyes:
Eye strain is common – over two-thirds of people in the US report eye strain symptoms. While not usually serious, it can still impact daily tasks.
Many of the causes of eye strain are rooted in everyday activities, meaning that simple lifestyle changes can help treat the condition.
One type of eye strain, digital eye strain, results from prolonged use of digital devices such as computers, phones, or TVs.
The symptoms of eye strain can vary in severity and time frame and aren’t always restricted to the eye area. You can also experience eye strain in one eye, or both simultaneously. Symptoms can include:
Most of the time, eye strain is caused by intense and prolonged focus on an object, usually a screen. It can also occur for other reasons. Common causes of eye strain include:
As we’ve seen, dry eyes and eye strain share some similar symptoms and causes. However, there are some notable differences between them.
One key difference between eye strain and dry eyes is how each affects the workings of the eye itself.
An area of the eye affected by dry eye is the layers of tear film on the surface of the eye. The three layers of tear film consist of an oily layer, an aqueous layer, and a mucus layer.
The tear film allow tears to stick to the eye and prevents them from evaporating too quickly. This allows the surface of the eye to remain lubricated.
Eye strain doesn’t affect the tear film layers.
Much like the tear film, tears are a vital component for keeping your eyes lubricated and healthy.
A gland called the lacrimal gland produces tears. People suffering from dry eye may have issues with this gland. This leads to either not enough tears produced, or too many.
Eye strain doesn’t affect the production of tears in this way.
As we have seen, eye strain is not a serious condition and it’s easy to treat, usually with eye rest.
While we can treat dry eye in similar ways, it isn’t always this easy. Autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren’s syndrome, arthritis, and lupus affect the glands involved in keeping the eye lubricated.
This means that while people with dry eye can manage their symptoms with various lifestyle changes and treatments, it will persist alongside the underlying condition.
Much like sore feet from a long day standing or walking, eye strain is uncomfortable but not a cause for concern. If you find your eyes feeling strained, resting them will provide relief.
Some people suffer from severe or chronic dry eye. These forms of dry eye present more severe, prolonged symptoms. Left untreated, these symptoms can lead over time to permanent eye damage.
Even in less severe dry eyes, the lack of proper lubrication of the eye surface can lead to damage to the cornea and ulcers. It may also lead to eye infections.
Important: While eye strain is benign, seeing a medical specialist if symptoms persist is important to determine the cause.
While eye strain and dry eyes share many similar causes and symptoms, eye strain is not a cause of dry eye syndrome.
Some dry eye symptoms, like blurred vision, make it more difficult to focus on objects. This creates extra strain on the eyes, with the possibility of leading to other symptoms like an eye strain headache.
You can have both conditions at the same time. You may develop them by spending long hours in front of screens. A diet low in nutrients for your eyes can compound the problem.
To reduce and prevent eye strain you can:
Eye strain glasses are also known as blue-light glasses. Their purpose is to protect you from “blue light” when using screens.
A recent study from the University of Melbourne found there are no benefits to their use. To date, no scientific proof exists of their benefits.
Eye strain and dry eye syndrome share similar causes and symptoms but also differ. Overall, eye strain is less serious and the symptoms are often more short-lived than those of dry eye.
Most people experience eye strain from computer use and excessive screen time. This makes it far more treatable and much less of a concern.
If you have dry eye symptoms, it’s important to see a medical professional to see what’s behind them, especially if these are severe or persistent.
Taking an eye health supplement may also help. A busy schedule and stress can make it difficult to eat enough nutrients for your eyes.
SightC is a superfood blend formulated to support eye health in the digital age. Each capsule provides lutein, zeaxanthin, beta carotene, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, and zinc, all of which are key nutrients for your eyes.
Meanwhile, Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies are a tasteful treat that provides anthocyanins and other antioxidants from blueberries. And since they are sweetened with monk fruit, you don’t have to worry about extra calories or tooth decay.
SightC and Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies complement each other, helping to keep your eyes healthy in our digital age.
Discover the mild dry eye relief bundle designed to last a month that includes SightC and Blueberry Monk Fruit Gummies.]]>That’s when neurological issues come in. Disguised as dry eye syndrome, these issues can cause burning, and sharp, needle-like symptoms in your eyes.
In this post, we delve deeper into the link between neurological issues and dry eyes. We also talk about neurological eye-related symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
Neurological issues encompass a wide range of conditions affecting your nervous system. That is, anything to do with your brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.
These conditions can cause migraines and nerve damage. But they can also lead to more severe conditions, like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
While your nervous system doesn’t directly control tear production, the different systems of your body, including your eyes, are closely connected. Problems with one system may lead to problems with another.
In certain cases, neurological issues could indirectly contribute to dry eyes, leading to neuropathic dry eye. Neuropathic dry eye causes include:
Neurological disorders can impact the nerves in your eyes and surrounding structures. They also reduce blood flow to your eyes and impair muscle movement.
This not only affects your tear production and blinking, but also your overall eye health. You will experience dry eye-like symptoms, such as:
As it happens, neurological disorders, when impacting your eyes, often disguise themselves as dry eye syndrome. A study was conducted to identify severe eye pain in 58 patients that didn’t match the visible signs of dry eyes.
The study concluded that neurological diseases caused dry eye-like symptoms without dry eyes. Proper diagnosis will help you tell apart the two conditions. It will also influence your treatment strategy.
Since neuropathic dry eye is a complex condition, it requires a careful assessment of both ocular and neurological factors. The diagnostic process typically includes several steps:
Treating neuropathic dry eye involves a combination of addressing the underlying nerve issue and managing the dry eye symptoms. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Your treatment may require a personalized approach, based on your specific case and needs. Let’s take a closer look at the main stages of a regular treatment for dry eye symptoms with presumed neuropathic ocular pain.
If your dry eye-like symptoms are a result of an underlying neurological disorder, addressing the primary condition is crucial. This will help improve nerve function and subsequently alleviate dry eye symptoms.
Your treatment approach will likely include anti-inflammatory agents as well as anti-neuropathic pain drugs. You may also be prescribed artificial tears for symptomatic relief.
Neuropathic issues can interfere with your blink rate. Conscious blinking, on the other hand, can help stimulate tear production and improve tear distribution.
You don’t need to blink forcefully; instead, focus on gentle and natural blinking motions. Make sure your upper and lower eyelids touch each other during each blink.
Acupuncture treatment involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body. Doing so increases blood circulation and reduces inflammation.
In case of neuropathic dry eyes, acupuncture treatment may alleviate your symptoms. It can stimulate your autonomic nervous system and increase lacrimal gland secretion.
Neuromodulation therapies aim to modify or regulate the function of your nerves. These therapies can be used as part of neuropathic dry eye treatment. They will help alleviate symptoms and restore normal nerve activity.
Some neuromodulation therapies to consider are:
Neurological issues and the dry eye-like symptoms they trigger can be challenging to manage. But understanding your condition, following a proper treatment strategy, and regularly consulting your doctor is the way forward.
That way, you will not only combat any dry eye-related symptoms, but also keep the condition from progressing.
Taking an eye health supplement may also help. Blueberry Gummies provide antioxidants including anthocyanins, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene together with vitamins and minerals that work together to support eye health in the digital age and improve dry eye symptoms.
Blueberry Gummies are made with Canadian blueberries and sweetened with monk fruit, a zero-calorie, diabetes-friendly sweetener. They are easy to take at home, at work, or while you’re on the go.
Keep your eyes happy with Blueberry Gummies.
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The duration of dry eyes depends mainly on its underlying causes, severity, and the effectiveness of treatment.
Mild cases of dry eyes last for relatively shorter periods and resolve on their own. On the other hand, severe cases can last longer and benefit from effective treatment measures.
The duration of dry eye can vary widely—it can last from a few hours and weeks to months and years. But in extreme cases, it may also become permanent. Let’s take a closer look at the factors determining the duration of dry eyes.
Several underlying causes can make your eyes dry, gritty, and irritated. Some of these causes are easier to deal with than others, and do not last as long.
For instance, if excessive screen time or poor lifestyle habits are the blame for your dry eyes, addressing those issues will resolve your dry eye symptoms within weeks.
On the other hand, if factors like autoimmune disorders are causing dry eyes, the symptoms may take several months and years to clear up.
The duration of dry eye can vary based on the severity of your condition. Dry eye disease can range from mild to severe; generally, the more severe the dry eye, the longer it will persist.
Mild cases are relatively short-lived. The symptoms are minor and resolve on their own within a few weeks. Moderate dry eye symptoms are more consistent and may last for several months.
Finally, severe or chronic dry eye cases involve intense discomfort and can potentially last for years.
Good to know: We wrote a post on the differences between chronic dry eye vs temporary dry eye.
Whether you have a mild case of dry eyes or a severe one, effective treatment can greatly reduce the duration of your dry eyes. Once you’re aware of the condition, there are a few things you can do at home to quickly alleviate the symptoms.
Apply a warm compress and massage your eyelids to improve the function of your oil-producing glands. You can also rest your eyes, use a humidifier, and keep yourself hydrated to speed up recovery from dry eyes.
Mild and temporary dry eyes can improve on its own over time. This includes dry eyes due to factors like exposure to allergens, overuse of contact lenses, and excessive screen time.
Chronic or persistent dry eyes is less likely to go away on its own. It’s often caused by factors that affect the quality and quantity of your tears. Without proper management, chronic dry eye symptoms can continue and even worsen over time.
Whether mild or severe, dry eye symptoms go away the moment you address their underlying causes and make lifestyle adjustments.
For mild cases, dry eye symptoms will go away within days once the triggering factors are eliminated. Taking frequent breaks from screens, staying hydrated, and practicing good eyelid hygiene will help.
If you have a more chronic form of dry eye syndrome, the symptoms might take months and even years to go away. Consult your eye doctor and consistently follow your treatment plan to keep your symptoms under control.
Mild forms of dry eyes are not dangerous and resolve on their own within days or weeks. But chronic and untreated dry eyes can lead to discomfort, irritation, and potential complications, a 2020 study shows.
These include corneal damage, increased risk of eye infection, and blurred vision. Not to mention the impact it may have on your overall eye health and quality of life.
Experiencing dry eyes due to LASIK surgery, conjunctivitis, or blepharoplasty? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions on how long do dry eye symptoms last.
Temporary dry eye can last anywhere from a few hours to weeks, depending on its cause. For instance, if exposure to dry or windy environments is triggering your dry eyes, your symptoms will persist only as long as you’re in those conditions.
On the other hand, if allergies or eye infections are the culprits, you will need to address these problems first to see an improvement in your dry eye symptoms.
A long-term study of patients with dry eyes found that dry eye disease lasts for 10.5 years on average. The study, involving participants with chronic dry eyes, involved 398 men and 386 women aged 60 and above.
The participants responded to a questionnaire about ocular surface symptoms, eyesight-related symptoms, and the social impact of dry eyes. It found that dry eye symptoms worsened over time while also impacting the quality of life in the long run.
Dry eyes is common after LASIK surgery. The symptoms typically peak in the first month after LASIK and last from six to twelve months.
That said, your symptoms are likely to reduce within weeks or months after the surgery. As your eyes begin to heal, they will make more tears for lubrication.
Dry eye after cataract surgery is temporary and tends to improve within a month, a 2020 study suggests. The symptoms are often worse during the first week, as the surgery disrupts your tear film.
Additionally, the severity of dry eye symptoms after cataract surgery varies from person to person. The factors influencing this are your age, overall eye health, and pre-existing medical conditions.
Conjunctivitis reduces your tear production and causes dry eyes. The symptoms can last from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the form of conjunctivitis.
In the case of viral conjunctivitis, dry eye symptoms can persist for several weeks after the infection has cleared up. On the other hand, dry eye symptoms due to bacterial conjunctivitis usually improve once the infection is resolved.
The duration of dry eye due to pink eye can vary. It can clear up within 24 hours. But it can also persist for a few weeks after the inflammation and infection have subsided.
Pink eye is the same as conjunctivitis and is caused by viral and bacterial infections. But irritants, allergic reactions, and chlorine in pools can also turn your eyes red or pink.
Blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure to correct droopy eyelids or remove excess eyelid skin, can contribute to temporary dry eye symptoms. Generally, the symptoms last from a few weeks to months.
The symptoms are most noticeable in the first few weeks after the surgery. They gradually improve as the swelling subsides and the healing starts.
When it comes to the duration of dry eyes, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Mild symptoms caused by environmental and lifestyle-related triggers last just a few hours or days. In such cases, will dry eye ever go away on its own? Most of the time, yes.
Severe and chronic symptoms, on the other hand, can persist for months and even years. They are the result of more serious underlying conditions like autoimmune diseases.
Whether mild or severe, early diagnosis and proper management can help minimize the impact of dry eye symptoms and improve your overall eye health.
An eye health supplement can also help. SightC is a superfood blend formulated to support eye health in the digital age. It provides essential nutrients that can help improve dry eye symptoms and sustain tear gland function.
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While age, medications, and hormonal changes may be to blame, nighttime dry eyes is more complicated than just that. It may be stemming from other conditions, like sleep disorders and poor sleep quality.
In this post, we’ll take a deeper look at what causes dry eyes while sleeping. We also offer you the best dry eye remedies so you can reclaim your nights.
From nocturnal lagophthalmos to screen time before bed, here’s what causes dry eyes at night. These causes may help you narrow down the culprit behind your condition.
Nocturnal lagophthalmos is an eyelid condition and one of the major causes of why your eyes dry out while sleeping. If you have this condition, your eyelids do not fully close during sleep.
Partially closed lids mean that your tear film is exposed to the air all night long. This leads to increased tear evaporation, making your eyes feel dry and sandy when you wake up.
Nocturnal lagophthalmos is caused by factors like anatomical abnormalities and eyelid weakness. But since it occurs during sleep, you may not be aware of the condition.
If you suspect you have nocturnal lagophthalmos, it’s best to consult with your eye doctor.
Although sleep-related disorders are often overlooked, research shows that they are prominent in people with dry eye syndrome. Anything from poor sleep, insomnia, short sleep duration, and long sleep latency can be to blame for this.
So, who is at risk of suffering from sleep disorders?
People with anxiety, depression, sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues. Also, women are at a higher risk of sleep disorders than men.
Excessive screen time during the day is bad enough. Add to this a few mindless hours of scrolling through your smartphone before bedtime and there’s no saving you from severe dry eyes at night.
Digital screens reduce your blink rate. They also emit blue light, suppressing the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. The combination of reduced blinking and sleep disruptions can make your eyes dry, tired, and irritated.
A large-scale study shows a direct link between dry eyes and sleep quality. The study involved over seventy thousand participants aged between 19 to 94 years.
The researchers observed that about 9% of participants suffered from dry eyes. Of these, a whopping 36% complained of poor sleep quality. But how exactly does sleep quality cause dry eyes?
Poor sleep affects tear secretion and tear film stability. It also aggravates anxiety and depression, worsening your dry eye symptoms. The bottom line is that lack of sleep can affect your eyesight.
Extended use of contact lenses during the day comes with a certain price. The lenses absorb your tears to maintain their shape. They also limit the amount of oxygen reaching your cornea and alter your tear film stability.
No wonder why your eyes feel dried out when you remove your lenses by the end of the day. Not to mention the accumulation of debris that might cause irritation and inflammation.
Tip: Can't do without contact lenses? Check our post on how to choose contact lenses for dry eyes.
Another cause of dry eyes at night is low humidity in your bedroom. Your tear film is a delicate balance of water, oils, and mucus. Together, these layers keep your tears from evaporating too quickly.
When you’re exposed to dry air and low humidity, your tear film is disrupted, leading to increased evaporation of tears. The symptoms will be especially pronounced during the winter nights when heating systems are running.
Eye irritation, pain, and swelling are some of the most common dry eyes while sleeping symptoms. The good news is that these are easily manageable.
Home remedies like applying a warm compress and using eyelid scrubs can work wonders for you. Read about these and other ways to combat dry eye at night while sleeping.
Applying a warm washcloth is one of the best remedies for dry eyes during sleep. The warmth from the compress will stimulate your oil-producing meibomian glands. It will also help unclog any blocked oil glands.
This will promote better oil flow and increase tear retention. You will also find immediate relief from soreness and inflammation. This remedy is also effective for dry eyes while sleeping after LASIK, as the procedure can cause temporary dryness.
Tip: Be cautious not to use a compress that’s too hot. Excessive heat can damage the delicate eye tissues.
Eyelid scrubs can also come in handy to prevent dry eyes when sleeping on your back. Especially when your dry eye symptoms are associated with blepharitis (flaky eyelids) or meibomian gland dysfunction.
Lid scrubs will remove debris, bacteria, and excess oils that worsen dry eye symptoms. They will also improve your tear film stability, keeping your eyes well-lubricated day and night.
You can use a clean cotton pad and some mild cleanser to scrub your eyelids. Performed before bedtime, this simple procedure can offer great relief from nighttime dry eyes.
Dry indoor air, especially during winter, can cause your tear film to evaporate more quickly. You can combat this by simply adding moisture to the air with a humidifier.
If you have dry eyes only while sleeping, place your humidifier in your bedroom to ease your symptoms. Aim for a relative humidity of around 40% to 50%. Humidity levels that are too high can create other issues, like mold growth.
Many dry eye cases are the result of an inflammatory diet according to a 2020 survey. On the other hand, higher consumption of vegetables and fibers is correlated with a lower risk of dry eyes.
To prevent dry eyes while sleeping, you can start consuming anti-inflammatory diets, like the Mediterranean diet. Focus on essential vitamins for eye health like A, C, and E, and consume lots of omega-3 fatty acids for overall eye health.
An eye health supplement may also help with dry eyes while sleeping. Natural supplements like Blueberry Gummies and SightC provide antioxidants and other essential nutrients your eyes need.
Made from superfoods like blueberries, these are easy to take at home, at work, and when you travel. Try them out.
Your tear film is mostly composed of water. Proper hydration ensures that your body has enough water to produce an adequate amount of tears. Research shows that dehydration may cause dry eyes.
For proper hydration, keep in mind the following tips:
The final preventive tip for dry eyes is staying away from digital devices before bedtime. This will limit blue light exposure, prevent digital eye strain, and keep your eyes feeling well-lubricated before you sleep.
Make it a rule to disconnect from all devices at least an hour before bedtime. Also, you want to lower your screen brightness and use night mode, especially in the evening.
Do your eyes feel dry and gritty in the morning? You may have developed dry eye disease.
Even if your symptoms are only mild, it's best not to ignore them. Over time, mild dry eye disease can become more severe.
The first step to addressing your symptoms is taking a dry eye test. Our online test is quick and easy to take.
]]>That said, you may need to clean your eyes if dust or chemicals get into them. We’ve written a whole post on when and how to flush your eyes correctly.
You can also clean your eyes and eyelids as a way to soothe them, or to remove makeup or mucus. In today’s post, we’re focusing on how to clean your eyes at home in non-emergency situations.
Let’s start with the eyewash you can use to clean your eyes.
It’s better to wash your eyes with sterilized water or bottled water rather than tap water. The latter may contain chlorine and other substances that can irritate your eyes. But if chemicals or other irritants get into your eye, lose no time—use tap water to flush out your eye.
The best eye wash is made professionally to ensure it's sterile. You can find it in pharmacies. Making your own homemade eyewash increases the risk of infection, irritation, and other accidents.
But if you don’t have a pharmacy-bought eye wash or don’t want to use one, you can make your own at home to use for rinsing your eyes.
The simplest homemade eye wash is a saline solution with a salt concentration under 1%, which is similar to the amount of salt in tears, blood, or saliva.
Things you need:
How to make it:
Important: It's best to make the saline solution just before using it as bacteria may grow in it quickly. Store the saline solution in the fridge to reduce the risk of bacterial growth and use it within 12 hours or sooner. Discard it after use.
The most thorough way to clean your eyes at home is using a bowl. You can use this method for both removing small particles and contaminants and to soothe dry tired eyes.
Things you need:
How to wash your eyes safely:
Important: Cleaning your eyes regularly isn’t a good idea. It may cause irritation and increase the risk of eye infections.
You can clean your eyelids as basic eye hygiene to remove mucus, pus, or makeup, or before using eye drops or eye ointments. As with the eyes, clean your eyelids only if necessary. Cleaning your eyelids in front of a mirror makes the entire process easier.
Things you need:
How to:
Pour some of the eyewash into the glass. You can heat it in a microwave up to 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius) or use it at room temperature. Be careful not to touch the solution.
Important: Don’t reuse swabs. Also, make sure to throw away any leftover eyewash solution.
You don’t have to clean your eyes the way you clean the rest of your body. But washing them helps if you want to remove mucus, dust, and other mild chemicals from them.
Washing your eyes can also soothe them if they feel dry and tired. Your eyes may feel dry if you’ve been exposed to wind, dust, or smoke, if you spend hours in front of screens, or take anti-allergy medication. Diet and other factors may also make your eyes dry.
However, while cleaning your eyes may sometimes soothe dry eye symptoms, it won’t treat dry eye disease. To manage this condition, you have to address the underlying causes.
Before you clean your eyes at home, take our quick and easy online dry eye test to find out whether you may have dry eye disease. Understanding what causes your symptoms is the first step to an effective treatment.
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Riboflavin is a key vitamin. It plays an essential role in your body’s energy production. Riboflavin deficiency can cause anemia, skin issues, and even poor vision.
In today’s post, we take a closer look at riboflavin’s eye and body health benefits, major food sources, dosage, side effects, and more.
Let’s start with what riboflavin is exactly.
Also known as vitamin B2, riboflavin is one of the eight B vitamins. Just like other B vitamins, it plays a major role in energy production.
Riboflavin metabolizes fats and protein in your body. It keeps your liver, skin, and hair healthy, and helps your nervous system function properly. It’s also essential for your eye cells.
In addition, riboflavin works as an antioxidant. It fights damaging free radicals in your body. That way, it also helps slow the pace of aging.
Does your body need riboflavin daily? It does. Because it’s water-soluble, riboflavin is easily flushed out of your body and has to be restored each day. In fact, riboflavin is responsible for the fluorescent-yellow color of urine.
Riboflavin is needed for the healthy and proper functioning of your eyes. The vitamin helps prevent cataracts, reduces migraines, strengthens the cornea, and reduces oxidative stress and eye fatigue.
Take a closer look at the many eye health benefits of riboflavin.
Does your eye lens feel cloudy, making your vision blurry? Riboflavin deficiency may be to blame.
According to the National Institutes of Health, eating a diet rich in riboflavin may lower the risk of developing cataracts. What’s more, as little as 2 micrograms of riboflavin can help prevent cataracts.
Riboflavin eye treatment drops can help treat progressive keratoconus, an eye condition with bulging corneas. First, the drops are applied. Then UV light is directed over the eye. This allows riboflavin to be absorbed into the cornea.
This procedure causes a reaction in the collagen fibers inside your cornea. It helps stiffen and strengthen the cornea, helping slow or stop the progression of keratoconus.
Oxidative stress can cause several eye diseases. These include cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, premature retinopathy, uveitis, keratitis, and ocular inflammation.
According to research, the consumption of riboflavin can protect your eyes and body from oxidative stress. It can help keep your eyes healthy and happy in the long run.
Apart from its eye and vision benefits, riboflavin also has several other health benefits. From boosting energy levels to repairing tissues and promoting growth, it plays a key role in supporting overall health.
Migraine can cause severe throbbing pain, typically on one side of your head. It may even come with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Findings after a clinical trial suggest that riboflavin can reduce the intensity and frequency of migraines. In the trial, patients who took 400 milligrams of riboflavin a day had fewer migraine attacks than those who took a placebo.
Riboflavin helps your body convert carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into fuel. It plays an important role in maintaining your body’s energy supply.
Riboflavin is also important for the formation of red blood cells and antibodies. This in turn increases blood circulation to key organs.
Feeling numb, anxious, or stressed? Riboflavin may come to the rescue. The vitamin helps the nervous system function properly. It may even relieve symptoms of anxiety and nervousness.
Riboflavin assists in the healing process, too. It repairs your body tissues and may speed up wound healing in diabetic patients, according to a 2015 study.
Riboflavin is essential for the proper growth and development of body tissues like the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. In addition, it also supports healthy nails, skin, and hair.
Because it regulates thyroid enzymes, riboflavin is important for people with hypothyroidism. On the other hand, a deficiency can suppress thyroid function. As a result, the gland will fail to secrete hormones.
Riboflavin benefits your immune system by strengthening the antibody reserves. It also improves the activity of certain immune cells in your body.
Riboflavin also helps in the absorption of other minerals. When your body has sufficient riboflavin, it absorbs folic acid, iron, and other B vitamins more easily.
Riboflavin contributes to a healthy pregnancy. It also reduces morning sickness, nausea, and muscle cramping during pregnancy. Pregnant women should take about 1.4 mg of the vitamin daily.
This vitamin keeps your digestive tract in good working order. It maintains and protects the mucous membranes in your digestive system.
Riboflavin is essential for your eye health. But so are several other vitamins and nutrients.
They work together with riboflavin to support eye health and can help prevent eye diseases like cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Although rare, riboflavin deficiency can come with painful and uncomfortable symptoms. A major cause of riboflavin deficiency is poor diet.
Your body flushes out this vitamin continuously. Not eating it often enough may lead to a deficiency. Signs and symptoms of riboflavin deficiency include:
Overdosing on riboflavin is unlikely since your body can absorb only around 27 milligrams of riboflavin at a time. Any additional amount is expelled in the urine.
That said, make sure to talk to your doctor before taking any riboflavin supplements. That’s because supplements can interfere with other medications, lowering their effectiveness.
Riboflavin is found in many foods. But if your diet lacks riboflavin, you can also consider taking supplements.
As far as riboflavin dosage is considered, here’s how much you should take daily according to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA):
When taken by mouth, riboflavin is safe for most people. You can take up to 400 mg daily without experiencing any undesirable effects.
Some side-effects of overconsumption of riboflavin are:
Many foods, like whole grains and dairy products, contain riboflavin naturally. So, it’s easy to get your daily dose of this vitamin from your diet.
For an optimal intake of riboflavin, eat more of these foods:
As a recap, riboflavin helps prevent cataracts, strengthen the cornea, and protect your eyes from free radicals.
Riboflavin has other health benefits, too. It boosts energy levels, increases blood circulation, supports the nervous system, and boosts immunity.
On the other hand, riboflavin deficiency can come with uncomfortable symptoms. These include cracks at the corners of your mouth, ulcers, dry and chapped skin, inflammation of the tongue, sore throat, and sensitive eyes.
You can get your everyday supply of riboflavin by simply eating a healthy diet. Include fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and seafood in your meals and you’re sorted.
Eating these will give you a riboflavin boost. It will also provide you with the best eye vitamins for blurry vision, like vitamins A, E, and C, along with zinc, lutein, and omega-3s.
Getting more riboflavin in your diet isn’t hard, so don’t skip those fruits and veggies!
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