The Surprising Missing Pieces behind the Dry Eyes

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The Surprising Missing Pieces behind the Dry Eyes

Are you suffering from dry eyes for a long period of time? Do you know that there is an interesting link between dry eyes and hormone imbalance? The eyes are the window of the soul. Many people overlook the care for their eyes until they suffer from irritation, dryness, or pain in the eyes, then they rush to see their physicians for help.

According to researchers, androgen (testosterone) and estrogen receptors are on the cornea and meibomian gland in your eyes, which means that there is a connection between your tears and your sex hormones. Based on studies, dry eyes affect 60 percent of menopausal women. Research in ocular surface disease has suggested that changes in androgen levels in the body can affect the meibomian and lacrimal glands. The meibomian glands (or tarsal glands) are special glands at the rim of the eyelids that are responsible for the supply of meibum, which is an oily substance that prevents evaporation of the eye’s tear film. The lacrimal glands are paired, almond-shaped glands that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film. Research has indicated that the Meibomian gland may actually be an androgen target organ. Androgens appear to not only affect the meibomian gland but also the lacrimal gland.^[1]

Irritation, dryness, and blurring of vision are the common symptoms when you experience menopause-related dry eyes. If your eyes are dry for a long period of time then you will experience inflammation. The immune response releases inflammatory substances that make your eyes become red, itchy, and uncomfortable. What are the natural solutions to relieve these symptoms and protect your eyes? A few are discussed below.

Avoid Prolonged Period of Using Eyes in Front of the Computer

One of the common causes of dry eyes is staring at digital devices such as the screen of a computer for a longer period of time. This is very common for many of us working in front of a computer in this modern society. Some are obliged to use the computer as part of their job for a long period of time during the day.

Computer devices may be linked to dry or fatigue eyes since more and more computer users have the tendency of blinking less often when they are staring the computer screen. One way to reduce computer-induced dry or fatigue eyes is to blink. Computer users commonly blink about eighteen times in a minute, which can naturally refresh their eyes. But most of the studies have suggested that some people only apply half of the common blinking rates while in front of the computer. This may also result in dry, tired, burning, itching, and fatigue eyes. Always remember and spare time to blink particularly while you’re working in front of the computer. When using devices such as an IPad and cell phones, blinking rates sharply decrease. Make sure that you close your eyes and rest your eyes from time to time to reduce some symptoms of fatigue and dry eyes.

Avoid Environmental Triggers

Environmental pollutants such as pollen smokes and dry air can all contribute to your dry eyes. Avoid rubbing your eyes because that can disturb the tear film, remove tears, and transfer irritants to your eyes. A humidifier can help prevent dry air especially at night when you sleep. A pair of sunglasses can prevent dry wind from making your eyes dry. It is also a good habit to change or clean the filter of your air conditioner on a regular basis to reduce the eye irritating pollutants entering your room. If you wear contact lenses, they can soak up the fluid in your eye and they also collect proteins on the surface, which further irritates your eyes. Make sure that you keep your lenses clean, and try not to wear them all the time.

Keep Your Eyes Moist

The comfort of your eyes depends largely on the amount of moisture in it. In addition, moisture on its surface can also protect your eyes from harmful chemicals and substances. A humidifier at work or even at home can prevent air from drying out. This is essential especially if you’re working in front of a computer at home and the moisture content of your eyes is continuously decreasing.

Another way to increase the moisture in your eyes is to use eye drops. They are quick-acting and provide temporary relief. It is recommended for individuals experiencing dry eyes to choose homeopathic types of eye drops that are very safe and effective to use, they also reduce the risk of allergies and sensitivities to your eyes. Make sure that you choose the right formula to relieve your dry eyes, not red eyes. According to Millar and other researchers working at the University of Western Sydney, the key to solving the mystery of the dry eyes will be creating an almost natural teardrop that will evaporate slowly, so that dry eye symptoms can be reduced.

Diet and Nutrition

To learn more about the amazing health benefits of astaxanthin, read Great natural pain reliever and brain food – Astaxanthin.

Balance Your Hormones

One way to help relieve your dry eyes is to restore a natural balance among estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Estrogen dominance has become more and more common among women in our modern society. There are many triggers for this, such as a highly stressed work environment, and environmental toxins that disturb our natural hormone balance; many drugs also contribute to this including birth control pills.

Vitex has been used for centuries by herbalists to treat hormone imbalance for women. Researchers have indicated that Vitex helps increase the production of luteinizing hormone (LH), a hormone that is secreted from the brain to stimulate the production of progesterone. Vitex has been used to help improve the secretion of progesterone by stimulating the formation of the corpus luteum in the ovary. The corpus luteum is responsible for the secretion of progesterone.^[5]

If you have concerns about hormone imbalance, read more tips on how to prevent estrogen dominance syndrome.

Other Alternative Solutions

Detox: Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the eyes indicate where your purest energy flows. When your life is balanced and you are healthy, your eyes radiate clarity. Symptoms of the dry eye might be a warning sign that your body is not detoxifying properly and thus inflammation occurs.

How to detox your body in a healthy way? Read more tips on How to Detox Your Body and Feel Lighter.

Get more sleep: Adequate sleep will give your eyes the rest they need and also help reduces the stress that contributes to an imbalance in your hormones. Your body repairs its cells and detoxifies your organs while you sleep, which in turn also helps decrease chronic inflammation in your body.

Have trouble to sleep? Read tips on How to Overcome Insomnia Naturally.

Massage: massage around your eyes several times every day. This may stimulate the glands in your eyes particularly tear glands. You can also do such a type of massage while you are in a warm shower.

Check some of your medications. Determine if some of the medicines or supplements that you are taking may cause dry eyes. Also, check if there are some substances listed in your medicine that can cause dry eyes such as ibuprofen, antidepressants, birth control pills, synthetic penicillin, and many others.

All of the above-mentioned solutions may help prevent dry eyes. Especially for those who are working in front of a computer for a longer period.

If you are suffering from hormone imbalance, you may want to take a look at your lifestyle, and whether your lifestyle and stress level may contribute to the situation. It is a good idea to look at the whole picture instead of solely relying on drugs. Diet and nutrition certainly play an important role in balancing your hormone. It is also recommended to seek professional help because they are equipped with specific knowledge for your particular issues.

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References

Dry eye in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study: prevalence, risk factors, and health-related quality of life.American Journal of Ophthalmology. April 2014.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/dryeye.htm
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21597374 on March 22, 2016
Retrieved from http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/bilberry on March 22, 2016
John R. Lee, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins. John Lee’s Hormone Balance Made Simple. 2006

Quote

“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” ~ Nikos Kazantzakis

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About the author: Lucy Liu

As a Holistic Health Practitioner, Registered Dietitian, TCM Practitioner, Energy Healer, Master Hypnotist, Reiki Master, Advanced Theta Healing Practitioner, Author and Speaker, Lucy Liu, the founder of optimalhealthsolutions.ca, has gained a good reputation in holistic health after many years of serving patients and clients as a holistic health practitioner. Lucy has developed a unique and comprehensive approach, which combines Western Medicine, Chinese Medicine, Energy Medicine, and Alternative Medicine together, to help others achieve optimal health by creating harmony between the body, mind, and spirit, and maintain long-term success for healthy lifestyle changes.
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