New Discoveries to Prevent Winter Dry Eye
Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) December 24, 2013 -- From the moment of birth, for land organisms, life on Earth is a constant struggle to avoid drying out. According to water and health researcher Sharon Kleyne, the better educated we are about the drying out or dehydration process, the better able we are to slow it down. One organ that is particularly vulnerable to dehydration is the eyes. Despite the critical importance vision, says Kleyne, good education about dry eye prevention is difficult to obtain. Kleyne believes that dry eye prevention should be a daily lifelong practice.
Sharon Kleyne hosts the globally syndicated Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water® radio show on VoiceAmerica and Apple iTunes. Kleyne also Founded Bio Logic Aqua Research, a fresh water and health research, education and product development center. The Research Center’s global signature product, Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® provides a personal portable humidifying mist that prevents eye dehydration by instantly supplementing lost tear film water.
According to Kleyne, the basal tear film covering the eyes is 98% water and protected only by a microscopically thin layer of lipid or oil. The loss of as little as 2% of the tear film’s water can stimulate a condition called “dry eye syndrome.” Kleyne estimates that at any given moment, up to 50% of the global population may have dry eye ranging from mild and transient to chronic and debilitating. Dry eye symptoms are the number one reason for United States eye doctor visits.
Nearly everyone, Kleyne believes, experiences some degree of dry eye. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms, or symptoms may go unnoticed. Even a slight loss of tear film water, however, can trigger the release of inflammatory hormones that perpetuate and worsen the dry eye symptoms. Kleyne emphasizes that there are many ways to slow or prevent tear film dehydration and that the key is education.
Dry eye, says Kleyne, may be caused by disease, allergies, or malfunction of the tear and lipid glands. The primary cause, however, is atmospheric evaporation pressure. Any time the air’s humidity falls below 100%, it causes pressure on liquid surface water, including water in the tear film, to vaporize into the atmosphere. Suspended particulate matter from air pollution adds to the problem because airborne particles tend to attract and accumulate water vapor molecules. This dries out the air and prevents water vapor from reaching the cloud level and returning as rainfall.
Early dry eye symptoms include eye discomfort, itching and burning eyes, eye fatigue, headache, blurred vision and increased stress levels.
According to Kleyne, maintaining tear film water should be part of everyone’s daily routine. She suggests drinking at least eight full glasses of water a day in addition to all other fluids. She also suggests keeping room humidity between 50% and to 70%, which is especially important in climate controlled buildings with insulated walls and windows and forced-air heating and cooling. Room humidity can be raised with a humidifier, bowls of water or house plants. Kleyne also recommends opening windows from time to time.
Other suggestions: Wear sunglasses outdoors to avoid glare. Take lingering showers and baths to humidify eyes and skin. Sleep 6 to 8 hours a night. Eat lots of fruit and salad. Avoid stress, fluorescent lighting and perspiration dripping into the eyes.
Kleyne also suggests applying Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® daily to maintain tear film moisture. At the first hint of symptoms such as burning or itching eyes, or blurred vision, she recommends increasing the number of daily applications until symptoms subside. The pure water mist is 100% safe and may be applied as often as desired. Kleyne emphasizes that everyone on Earth experiences some degree of tear film water loss each and every day.
Kleyne notes that commercial eye drop products for dry eye do not add supplemental water to the tear film but do provide a moisture barrier to slow the evaporation of existing water. According to Kleyne, these commercial products are most effective when applied immediately after the application of humidifying products such as Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®.
Mikaylah Roggasch, Bio Logic Aqua Research-Rogue Media, +1 (800) 367-6478, [email protected]
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