Dry Eye Researcher Sharon Kleyne Shares Dry Eye Facts Many Don’t Know. Some Surprising Facts about Dry Eye from Dry Eye Expert Sharon Kleyne.
Many who encounter dry eye disease for the first time aren’t too worried about it—at first. “That’s important,” says world dry eye expert Sharon Kleyne, who has studied dry eye and battled its ocular reign of terror for more than thirty years. “Dry Eye begins to be noticed because of a little irritation,” says Kleyne. But as time goes by, that irritation can snowball into a full-fledged dry eye condition. Eye sensations of grittiness, redness, swelling, itchiness and blurred vision become almost commonplace. In fact, Kleyne points out, dry eye left on its own can result in blindness.
Yes, it’s true. Blindness, Kleyne explains, is out of control around the world, and so is dry eye disease. Kleyne’s noted Chinese colleague, Dr. Yuan Fang, says that dry eye afflicts more than 300 million Chinese every year. In addition, Fang points out, 60 percent of young people in China are nearsighted and need to wear glasses. In America, Kleyne says, more than 30 million Americans will be blind this year. Clearly, one way to fight blindness is to fight dry eye disease.
Kleyne, also the host of the internationally syndicated radio program, The Sharon Kleyne Hour Water Life Science®/Nature’s Pharma®, The Power of Water® & Your Health sponsored by Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® on VoiceAmerica and World Talk Radio produced by Rose Hong, founder/director of Global Dragon TV in Washington, D.C., cautions everyone to about these compelling facts regarding dry eye disease.
“For example,” Kleyne asks, “are you aware of the fact that existing medical conditions and medications can trigger dry eye? Well, it’s true.” Aging is a common cause of dry eye. So are diabetes, thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Antihistamines, drugs for blood pressure, decongestants and antidepressants can all reduce tear production and accelerate water evaporation of the eye’s tear film, which is naturally 99 percent water. The more the water in the eye evaporates, the worse will be the dry eye condition in that eye.
Kleyne also says that many do not know about the beneficial effects of Omega-3 fatty acids. Recent studies indicate that 325 milligrams of EPA and 175 milligrams of DHA twice a day have improved dry eye conditions. Fish and fish oil supplements are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.
Kleyne adds that too much time in front of a computer screen can cause and aggravate dry eye conditions. Step away from the screen at least every twenty minutes and look at objects far away (at least twenty feet away) to give eyes a much-needed rest. Staring at a computer screen slows down the natural blinking process. The less the eye blinks, the fewer are the tears produced. Fewer tears equals worse dry eye.
One other caution involves eye makeup. If a dry eye condition already exists, eye makeup can make it worse. How? Particles from the makeup can migrate to the tear film, causing irritation and excessive evaporation. If eye makeup is a necessity, apply it as far away from the eyelid line as possible to minimize instances of makeup particle migration to the tear film.
Finally, Kleyne urges more education about water and dry eye disease for everyone. Kleyne, creator of a healthier Water Life Science® lifestyle, has also invented Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®, the only dry eye product on the global market that consists of 100 percent Trade Secret tissue culture grade water.
Why is this important? Because the water in Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® has a pH balance that is virtually identical to the pH balance of the water that is naturally produced by the eye. Thus, Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® is the perfect supplement and dry eye solution®. “Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® is the gift of Nature’s Pharma®,” says Kleyne.
