The “Dr. G. Fix” For Dry Eye
Q: I have been suffering from dry eye for many years now. I use those “artificial tears” eye drops, but they don’t work that well, and I really don’t want to use prescription drops. Are there any natural treatments that can help?
-Joyce T.
Dr. G: Modern technology might make life more convenient in a lot of ways, but it sure isn’t good for our health.
Case in point: Our excessive exposure to computers, flat-screen monitors, phones, and fake light is terrible for our eyes, and is one of the main reasons why dry eye disease has become one of the most common eye conditions in the U.S.
The symptoms associated with dry eye—dryness, burning, and stinging —can wreak havoc with your quality of life. And if that’s not bad enough, over time, it can lead to vision impairment.
I certainly don’t blame anyone for reaching for artificial tears. But don’t expect them to provide lasting relief because, as with the vast majority of drugs on the market, they don’t fix the underlying cause of the problem.
Fortunately, there is a substance found in nature that does get to the root cause of dry eye, and it’s something you’re already familiar with: omega-3 fatty acids.
One of the main causes of dry eye has to do with poor tear quality—which omega-3s can help fix.
The tear film has three layers—oil, water, and mucous, and all three need to be present in the right amount to keep your eyes healthy. The oil layer, which is produced by Meibomian glands, is critical because it prevents tears from evaporating too quickly.
Studies have shown that omega-3s increase the amount of fatty acids in the Meibomian gland secretions. Ultimately, this slows the evaporation of the tears, which improves the symptoms of dry eye.
Fish oils are a great source of omega-3s.
But not all fish oil supplements are the same.
A new study has found that a unique form of omega-3s are especially effective in treating dry eye. It’s called re-esterified omega-3s.
Most fish oils supplements have alcohol added to them to remove toxins from the oil. The problem with this method is that the alcohol converts the fats into a compound that’s not easily absorbed by our bodies. When omega-3s are re-esterified, it means the alcohol that was added is removed, which makes it easier for the body to absorb.
After 12 weeks of supplementing with this highly-absorbable omega-3, people experienced significant improvements in all of the important measurements associated with dry eye. These include ocular surface disease index, tear concentration, tear break-up time, and omega-3 index levels.
The results were so strong that the researchers recommended omega-3s as primary therapy for dry eye disease.
Finally, a recommendation I can agree with.
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