by: Dr. Liz
I think the front range has the best year round climate except for the dryness! Raise your hand if you feel like your skin cracks and bleeds in the winter or you wake up in the morning with a strange sandpaper feeling in your eyes?
Healthy eyes have a constant tear film that is designed to remain stable between blinks. This films job is to prevent dry eyes and allow you to maintain clear vision. A decrease in tear film production or an increased level of evaporation can cause a destabilization of the three tear layers in your eyes.
Decreased production of fluids from your lacrimal glands (where your tears come from) can destabilize the tear film, allowing it to break down rapidly and create dry spots on the surface of your eyes. An imbalance of proteins that make up the tear film can contribute to dry eyes.
I have many patients tell me that they are using eye drops that get the red out of their eyes. First and foremost please don’t use products that get the red out! Many of these drops have tetrahydrozaline in them which causes constriction of the blood vessels in the white part of your eye. These drugs decrease the size of the blood vessels so that your eyes look whiter. If you use these drops too much rebound can happen. What would I do? Solve the underlying redness problem. What could cause chronic redness in the eyes? Dry eyes!
My preference is to use Fish Oil capsules daily that contain Flaxseed Oil and Vitamine E. Second, start on rewetting drops first thing in the morning, middle of the day and then right before bed. This will keep your eyes moist during your waking hours. Remember to drink plenty of water and stay away from too much caffeine and alcohol. If you have had a big night out on the town make sure to rehydrate with water.
There are other things you can do if these products don't work. I will be talking about some of these treatments in future blog posting.
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