05 Jul 2022
Goodbye Dry Eyes
What are dry eyes? A common condition, dry eyes occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or if they produce tears that are unable to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Read more to find out the symptoms and how you can take care of it.
Having dry eyes is a common condition and it is usually caused by a lack of adequate, quality tears.
Our tear film plays an essential role for reducing evaporation of our natural tears.
It cleanses and lubricates the surface of the eye and protects it against infection1.
Our tears consist of three layers: water – for moisture, oil – for lubrication, and mucus – for even spreading of tears over the eyes2.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
When our tears do not produce enough moisture, or there is imbalance in the tear mixture, our eyes may experience the following:
If you have prolonged symptoms of dry eyes, and feel like your eyes are constantly irritated, tired or in pain, it’s recommended to see a doctor to diagnose the symptoms, or they may refer you to a specialist.
Causes for Dry Eyes
There are many reasons that may disrupt a healthy tear film. Problems with any of the three layers of our tear film cause dry eyes. Some reasons or factors include:
Tips to Kick Dry Eyes Out
Use Recommended Eye Drops
If you’ve seen a doctor, he/ she may recommend lubricating eye drops. A pharmacy nearby you should carry eye drops, gels, and ointments that contain ingredients to retain moisture.
Home Care
You can use a humidifier to increase moisture levels in your home, especially in dry climates or when you turn on the aircon.
You can also care for your peepers by giving it a warm compress. Inflamed and flaky eyelids may lead to dry eyes as they may clog the oil-making glands along the edge of your eyelid5. Use a clean, damp cloth that was placed in warm water and place it over your closed eyes for at least a minute, while gently pressing the edge of your eyelid. The moist heat will help loosen up the clogged oils.
Lessen Screen Time
Limit your time spent looking at a digital screen (computer/ laptop, phone, television), as increased digital screen time makes our eyes work harder and increases the exposure of blue light which could hurt our eyes. One of the effects of prolonged screen time is Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), and having dry eyes is one of its symptoms. Learn more about CVS here
Limit Contact Lens Use
Wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods can also cause dry eye. According to a study, about half of contact lens wearers develop dry eyes6. Another way to relieve dry eyes is to switch to a different type of lens – soft contact lenses and hydrogel lenses that are disposable are usually better for dry eyes.
If you have tried many different lenses and solutions but are still experiencing dry eyes, we recommend to temporarily stop wearing your contact lenses to let your eyes rest and recover, and wear glasses instead.
Wear Sunglasses
If you are constantly exposed to the sun and the outdoors, wearing sunglasses can help prevent dust and wind from blowing in your eyes, and protects your eyes from the impact of UV rays.
Change Your Diet
Nutrition from your diet is important for good eye health! Omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful for dry eyes. They can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and anchovies, and in flaxseeds. As one may have to consume large amounts of such sources to reap the benefits for dry eyes, consider a supplement such as LAC TRIMAX™ Omega Fish Oil , which contains a high potency of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Fruits that are high in antioxidants and vitamins are also important for your eye health. These are commonly found in most berries, such as bilberry, blueberry, wolfberry, and blackcurrant. The antioxidants present could help to prevent dryness and free radical damage. LAC Berry Clear® packs in a rich mix of berries that can nourish the blood vessels supplying nutrients and oxygen to your eyes, and contains Eyebright Extracts that help relieve tired, dry, and strained eyes.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
When our tears do not produce enough moisture, or there is imbalance in the tear mixture, our eyes may experience the following:
- Redness or irritation
- Feeling like there’s something in our eye/ a sandy sensation
- Blurry vision
- Reflex tearing (mostly water without sufficient moisture)
- Heavy eyelids
- Light sensitivity
- Feeling like there’s something in our eye/ a sandy sensation
- Blurry vision
- Reflex tearing (mostly water without sufficient moisture)
- Heavy eyelids
- Light sensitivity
If you have prolonged symptoms of dry eyes, and feel like your eyes are constantly irritated, tired or in pain, it’s recommended to see a doctor to diagnose the symptoms, or they may refer you to a specialist.
Causes for Dry Eyes
There are many reasons that may disrupt a healthy tear film. Problems with any of the three layers of our tear film cause dry eyes. Some reasons or factors include:
- Ageing: Tear production tends to decrease as we age. Dry eyes are more common in people over age 503
- Hormonal changes: Dry eyes could be a side effect of hormonal changes such as during pregnancy, menopause or when taking hormonal birth control4
- A diet that is low in Vitamin A and Omega-3 fatty acids
- Long-term contact lens use
- Environmental factors such as constant exposure to wind or dry air, staring at a screen or long hours
- Hormonal changes: Dry eyes could be a side effect of hormonal changes such as during pregnancy, menopause or when taking hormonal birth control4
- A diet that is low in Vitamin A and Omega-3 fatty acids
- Long-term contact lens use
- Environmental factors such as constant exposure to wind or dry air, staring at a screen or long hours
Tips to Kick Dry Eyes Out
Use Recommended Eye Drops
If you’ve seen a doctor, he/ she may recommend lubricating eye drops. A pharmacy nearby you should carry eye drops, gels, and ointments that contain ingredients to retain moisture.
Home Care
You can use a humidifier to increase moisture levels in your home, especially in dry climates or when you turn on the aircon.
You can also care for your peepers by giving it a warm compress. Inflamed and flaky eyelids may lead to dry eyes as they may clog the oil-making glands along the edge of your eyelid5. Use a clean, damp cloth that was placed in warm water and place it over your closed eyes for at least a minute, while gently pressing the edge of your eyelid. The moist heat will help loosen up the clogged oils.
Lessen Screen Time
Limit your time spent looking at a digital screen (computer/ laptop, phone, television), as increased digital screen time makes our eyes work harder and increases the exposure of blue light which could hurt our eyes. One of the effects of prolonged screen time is Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), and having dry eyes is one of its symptoms. Learn more about CVS here
Limit Contact Lens Use
Wearing contact lenses for prolonged periods can also cause dry eye. According to a study, about half of contact lens wearers develop dry eyes6. Another way to relieve dry eyes is to switch to a different type of lens – soft contact lenses and hydrogel lenses that are disposable are usually better for dry eyes.
If you have tried many different lenses and solutions but are still experiencing dry eyes, we recommend to temporarily stop wearing your contact lenses to let your eyes rest and recover, and wear glasses instead.
Wear Sunglasses
If you are constantly exposed to the sun and the outdoors, wearing sunglasses can help prevent dust and wind from blowing in your eyes, and protects your eyes from the impact of UV rays.
Change Your Diet
Nutrition from your diet is important for good eye health! Omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful for dry eyes. They can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and anchovies, and in flaxseeds. As one may have to consume large amounts of such sources to reap the benefits for dry eyes, consider a supplement such as LAC TRIMAX™ Omega Fish Oil , which contains a high potency of Omega-3 fatty acids.
Fruits that are high in antioxidants and vitamins are also important for your eye health. These are commonly found in most berries, such as bilberry, blueberry, wolfberry, and blackcurrant. The antioxidants present could help to prevent dryness and free radical damage. LAC Berry Clear® packs in a rich mix of berries that can nourish the blood vessels supplying nutrients and oxygen to your eyes, and contains Eyebright Extracts that help relieve tired, dry, and strained eyes.
References
1 Role of our tear film: https://www.singhealth.com.sg/patient-care/conditions-treatments/dry-eyes
2Tears and its 3 layers: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/qa/whats-in-a-tear
3 Dry eyes are common in those over age 50: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863#:~:text=Dry%20eye%20disease%20is%20a,you%20produce%20poor%2Dquality%20tears.
4Hormonal changes and dry eyes: https://www.mountelizabeth.com.sg/healthplus/article/5-causes-dry-eyes
5Inflamed and flaky eyelids: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/dry-eyes-home-remedies
6Contant lens wearers and dry eyes: https://www.healthline.com/health/great-contact-lenses-dry-eyes#lens-options
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Products Used In This Article
LAC
Berry Clear®
30 sticks
LAC Berry Clear® - the ultimate eye care formula that nourishes eyes and provides them with excellent antioxidant protection against free radical damage. Packs in a rich mix of berries and synergistic benefits of other important nutrients for long term eye health and maintenance.
LAC Eyes
Berry Clear®
30ml x 12 bottles
LAC Berry Clear® - the ultimate eye care formula that nourishes eyes and provides them with excellent antioxidant protection against free radical damage. Packs in a rich mix of berries and synergistic benefits of other important nutrients for long term eye health and maintenance.
LAC Omegas & Fish Oil
TRIMAX™ Omega Fish Oil
120 softgels
1468mg Fish Oil concentrate providing 1000mg Omega-3 fatty acids: 734mg EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) & 266mg DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). Best value (potency) compared to regular fish oil supplements. Enteric coated to reduce unpleasant fishy burps. Purified, suitable for long term consumption without worrying about the harmful heavy metals prevalent in some of today’s fish.
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