Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science® Founder Sharon Kleyne
Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) December 07, 2015
Winter is the worst season for dry eye symptoms and the elderly are the most at-risk group. With the winter of 2015-16 a scant three weeks away, senior citizens (over 50) are advised to learn everything possible about the causes and symptoms of dry eye, especially as they affect their age group, and to take preventive precautions. That will be the message of fresh water advocate and radio host Sharon Kleyne, on an upcoming radio show.
Kleyne will discuss the elderly, seasonal dry eye, dry eye prevention and Water Life Science® on her Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water® radio show of Monday, Dec. 6, 2015. For the live show or a podcast, go to http://www.SharonKleyneHour.com.
The globally syndicated, education oriented radio show is heard weekly on VoiceAmerica (Health and Wellness, and Variety Channels) and Apple iTunes. The show is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®, founded by Kleyne and specializing in fresh water, the atmosphere, body surface evaporation and dehydration. The Research Center’s signature product for dry eye is Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®.
Dry eye is a potentially serious condition, according to Kleyne that affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives. Untreated chronic dry eye can lead to serious visual problems including corneal ulcers, cataracts and blindness.
To understand why we become increasingly susceptible to dry eye as we age, says Kleyne, we need to know the cause of dry eye. The primary causes are either low tear production or accelerated evaporation of the eyes’ basal tear film (or both). The surface of the eye is 99 percent water and a tear film water loss of only 2 percent can trigger dry eye symptoms.
Tear production diminishes after age 50, Kleyne explains, because the capacity of the eyes’ lachrymal glands to produce tears diminishes. At the same time, susceptibility to tear film evaporation increases due to diminished functioning of the meibomian glands that lay a thin layer of oil over the tear film surface, and diminished production of the mucin that adheres the tear film to the ocular surface.
The biggest contributing factor for senior dry eye, according to Kleyne, is that the elderly tend to be more dehydrated than the younger population. Dehydration can be caused by less efficient processing of water by the body, diminished thirst response as we age, increased use of certain medication (particularly antihistamines and diuretics), and an increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes and certain allergies.
Dry eye is common in winter at any age, according to Kleyne, for several reasons:
First, winter air is much dryer than summer air because the lower the temperature, the less atmospheric water vapor the air is capable of holding. Although we perspire less in winter and water evaporates more slowly in cold temperatures, this is more than offset by the much dryer air. Cold wind is extremely dehydrating.
In addition, Kleyne notes, we spend more time indoors in winter. Forced air heating and insulated walls and windows with poor outside ventilation can dramatically lower room humidity, which can dehydrate both the eyes and the skin. Finally, inversion layers are more likely to form in winter, where warmer air becomes trapped under a layer of cold air. Inversion layers can also trap air pollution, which is dehydrating.
Dry eye symptoms, says Kleyne, include temporarily blurred vision, itching and burning eyes, headaches, unexplained fatigue, dry mouth, poor sleep and increased feelings of stress.
Kleyne recommends the following precautions to prevent dry eye: Monitor room humidity in the house. If the relative humidity drops below 40 percent, install room humidifiers or set out bowls of water or house plants. Also, take frequent hot baths, get at least seven hours sleep a night, eat a nutritious and healthy diet, get moderate exercise and avoid dehydrating foods such as caffeine, alcohol and sugar.
No matter what the season, Kleyne recommends drinking at least eight full glasses (8 ounces each) of water a day in addition to all other fluid intake. Begin with two full glasses upon rising and drink at least two more full glasses during the day. Children 10 or under should drink half their body weight in ounces per day.
Kleyne also suggests eye moisture supplementation with a personal hand held eye humidifying device such as Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® from Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®.
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