Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) March 12, 2014
March is "National Save Your Vision Month," an annual educational effort sponsored by the American Optometric Association (AOA). Water and eye researcher and radio host Sharon Kleyne strongly supports the AOA effort and urges everyone to have regular eye exams. According to Kleyne, the surface of the eye is 98% water and the best way to "Save Your Vision," is to become educated on the importance of maintaining ocular surface moisture and avoiding tear film dehydration.
Sharon Kleyne is Founder of Bio Logic Aqua Research, a water and health research and product development center. Natures Tears® EyeMist®, a 100% fresh water mist, is the Research Center’s global signature product for dry eyes. Kleyne also hosts the globally syndicated Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water® radio show, heard on the VoiceAmerica Variety Channel and Health and Wellness Channel, and Apple iTunes.
The loss of as little as 2% of the moisture in the protective tear film covering the surface of the eyes, according to Kleyne, can lead to dry eye complaints or worse. Kleyne notes that dry eye has become the number one reason for United States eye doctor visits (Mathers, 2005).
Dry eye, Kleyne explains, may be caused by atmospheric conditions such as dry air with low water vapor content, polluted atmospheric humidity, wind, cold, solar radiation, forced-air heating and cooling, insulated walls and windows, and other irritants and dehydration factors such as smoke, dust, certain chemical fumes and solar radiation.
Dry eye is extremely common among computer users, reports Kleyne. That’s because the tear film’s is maintained and replenished by blinking. Extended computer use can slow the reflexive blink rate from 20 to 30 times per minutes to as few as three times a minute. The can significantly increase the rate of evaporation of tear film water into the atmosphere. (AOA, 2012).
Dry eye may also be caused, says Kleyne, by diminished functioning of the minuscule lipid glands in the eyelids, impaired production by the tear glands, and physical dehydration resulting from not drinking enough water, improper diet, illness, or stress. Lipid glands are important because they produce the tear film's thin overlying "lipid" or oil layer. This thin layer, Kleyne explains, helps prevent the underlying and much thicker "aqueous" or water layer from losing moisture through evaporation into the atmosphere (Mathers, 2005).
Whether the cause is environmental or physical, says Kleyne. the result is a loss of water content in the tear film's aqueous layer, Since the tear film's electrolyte or salt content does not evaporate when the water evaporates, water loss can cause the salt content to become overly concentrated (AOA, 2012). This can throw off the tear film's "osmolarity," a measure of water attracting ability, and also cause the body to transmit anti-inflammatory agents to the eyes. This, in turn, can lead to red, itching and or burning eyes, blurred vision, headaches, increased anxiety, etc. (Mathers, 2005).
The eyes’ daily tear film water requirements may be met by drinking at least eight glasses of fresh water a day in addition to all other fluids, obtaining adequate sleep, avoiding the eye irritants and dehydration factors described above, and resting the eyes when they become tired. When working at a computer, take frequent short breaks and make an effort to blink every three seconds or so.
Kleyne also recommends the Bio Logic Aqua Research product, Nature's Tears® EyeMist®, the only all-natural, 100% water eye mist that is patented and specifically configured to soothe dry eye complaints and supplement natural tear film water.