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The Health Benefits of Healthy Tears

by W. Kevin Wright O.D. on 03/21/2013 in Healthy Vision with 2 Comments

Crying eye

Tears are an important and essential part of maintaining healthy eyes. Your tears have many important components which help keep your eyes moist, clean and free from infection. In many cases, releasing tears even helps reduce stress hormones in your body.1 So, you can see why maintaining healthy tears can be beneficial not only for your eye health, but your overall bodily health as well. Here are some of the main components of your tears:

Outer Oil Layer

The oil layer helps maintain a smooth tear surface and also  slows the evaporation of the water layer. If your oil glands cannot produce enough oil, the watery layer could evaporate too quickly causing dry eyes.

Watery Middle Layer

This layer is responsible for washing away dirt and other irritants off the surface of your eyes.

Inner Mucus Layer

The mucus layer helps distribute tears evenly across the eyes surface, and a lack of mucus can cause dry spots on the cornea, the ”window” light passes through to get to the back of your eye.  When it gets dry it changes from being smooth as glass to more of an orange peel texture.  This blurs the vision.

A common problem is a lack of tear production, which can be caused by a number of different factors – including age, other medical conditions and some medications. But there are some general steps you can take to make sure you are producing sufficient, healthy tears.

Stay well hydrated

Drinking a healthy amount of water will ensure that you can produce enough tears throughout the day and improve the comfort of your eyes.

Take breaks during long tasks

If you’re doing an activity that requires extended use of your eyes, such as reading or using a computer, take periodic breaks. Shut your eyes for a few minutes and even blink repeatedly to distribute tears evenly over the eyes.

Don’t smoke

Smoking and exposure to smoke will affect the overall health of your body and can exacerbate dry eye symptoms. If you don’t smoke, avoid being around people who smoke. 2

These are only 3 of the many ways you can maintain healthy eyes. But overall, a healthy lifestyle and diet will ensure your eyes stay in great shape. And of course, if you experience any strange symptoms like chronic dry eye, strange discharge or inflammation, give your O.D. or PCP a call.

 

Sources:

  1. Orloff, J, M.D. The Health Benefits of Tears. Psychology Today, 27 July, 2010
  2. The Mayo Clinic

2013 Resolutions: Healthier Eyes Mean A Healthier You

by W. Kevin Wright O.D. on 01/29/2013 in Healthy Vision with 4 Comments
2013 Resolutions

With a New Year come new resolutions. And you may not know it, but those healthy resolutions do more than just keep your weight down. Remember last month, when we talked about your eyes being the window to your health? Resolutions to keep your eyes healthy can be the same resolutions for your overall well-being. Here are three common healthy resolutions that do more than meets the eye.

Maintain a healthy diet and exercise

A healthy, well-balanced diet and exercise do more than help you lose weight and feel healthier. These are good ways to help prevent many systemic diseases that affect the conditions in your eyes, such as Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Make a plan to maintain a more active lifestyle this year, and balance your diet with some healthier foods, such as leafy greens like kale and spinach, and colorful fruits, which are beneficial for your eye health.

Quit smoking

Smoking causes all kinds of awful diseases, such as heart disease, emphysema and a number of different cancers. Did you also know smoking could make you go blind? In fact, smokers are 4 times, yes, 4 times more at risk of developing macular degeneration than smokers who have quit and non-smokers. Smoking also increases your risk of developing cataracts. So, dump the habit and stay off – it’ll take quitters 20 years to decrease their risk to the level of people who’ve never smoked before.

Get an annual eye exam

Eye exams aren’t just about getting glasses or contacts. There are a number of eye conditions that can indicate bigger health issues. In fact, I see many Diabetic patients for eye exams related to their condition and make sure to send a report to their family doctor and endocrinologist so they will know if there are indicators of diabetes affecting the patient’s health. If I can see diabetic damage in the eye then the diabetes is probably affecting other organs of the body. This can help physician decide on the best treatment for a condition.

Make your resolutions this year much more than about slimming your waistline. It doesn’t hurt to try to fit into last year’s jeans, but keep an eye on your overall health. And remember that healthy eyes can be indicators of a healthier you.

Your Eyes: Window To Your Health

by W. Kevin Wright O.D. on 12/17/2012 in Healthy Vision with 2 Comments
Woman look

Our eyes can reveal a lot about us, especially when it comes to our overall health. Did you know your eyes are the only part of your body that have exposed blood vessels? Quite literally our eyes are a window into our bodies. I think it’s fascinating that the body part we use to see externally is also the part that acts as an indicator that allows us to see internally. Many health issues, not just eye health ailments, exhibit symptoms that impact our eyes and vision. This is why eye exams are so important and beneficial: they can detect both eye problems AND other health issues. Your eyes can indicate health issues in a large range including migraines, liver issues, high blood pressure, aneurysm, arthritis, diabetes, stroke, and many more. Today, let’s take a look at some of the potential symptoms your eyes could exhibit and possible health issues that could be indicated. CONTINUE READING Continue reading

Famous People with Eye Issues

by W. Kevin Wright O.D. on 10/11/2012 in Healthy Vision with 2 Comments
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As human beings, it’s natural to not want to feel alone, especially when it comes to our health challenges. It can be very encouraging and sometimes inspirational to know there are others who have dealt with issues you face, and the same can be said for your eye health issues both minor and major. There’s a certain assuring validation felt knowing a person physically sees the world the way you do. I think it can be especially inspiring to learn of notable figures with eye issues who have achieved great things—especially when said people demonstrate an unstoppable spirit and optimism despite their poor vision health. So today, I’m turning the spotlight on a few famous figures who have dealt with eye health issues ranging from a detached retina, to glaucoma, cataracts, and even a rock star with a bionic eye! These celebrities are proof that eye disease and eye health challenges can be lived through greatly, and while these challenges may affect physical eyesight to varying degrees, they don’t affect the outlook of these extraordinary individuals.  This first man I want to tell you about, proved that beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and that eye issues can sometimes even create a perspective that results in great works of art. CONTINUE READING Continue reading

Spooky Specs: Halloween Styles

by Lori Bowman on 10/08/2012 in Eyewear, Fashion with 1 Comment
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Halloween is around the corner, and trick-or-treaters will be donning their costumes for parties and door-to-door quests for candy. On this eve of total disguise and transformation, there may be some glasses-wearers who perhaps feel challenged in achieving total authenticity in their costumes, should the costume choice traditionally be a non-glasses wearer. Personally, in Pearle Vision’s range of stylish frames I’d happily compromise total accuracy in favor of dressing up as Frankenstein in Vogue Eyewear, or a Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz who just happens to be chic in Burberry frames. But, that’s not to say I don’t have the utmost respect (and awe) for the Halloween costume pro who masks themselves flawlessly down to the last detail in their assumed Hallow’s Eve identity. These enthusiasts in mind, and for all glasses and sunglass-wearing people out there in search of costumes that incorporate eyewear as accenting and mandatory accessorizing touches, I put together some costume ideas especially for you. We’ll take a look at the actual character and real folks’ costume interpretations.  Read on for some fun glasses-obligatory characters and the perfect pair of frames from Pearle Vision to complete the costumed look. CONTINUE READING Continue reading

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