Dry Eye Relief

Well who would have thought that dry eyes could be a sexist issue, but it turns out that more women than men suffer from it, though that may be because one of the prime causes is wearing contact lenses which is more common in women than men, particularly at menopause. One factor common to both sexes is that it gets more common as we age, with up to 33% per cent of people aged over 65 suffering from it.

Curiously dry eye can be a result of either not having enough tears, or losing too much of them through evaporation. It is the tear film that normally keeps the eyes moist and lubricated and having a moist, healthy eye surface is essential for normal vision.

Are You Affected?

There are several common symptoms, including:

• Irritation so the eyes may feel gritty or burning, but they don’t turn red unless another eye problem is also present

• Sensitivity to bright lights

• Slight blurring of vision from time to time.

Factors that can result in dry eye include medication, as some have this as a side effect like diuretics, some antidepressants, antihistamines, some anti-anxiety medicines, the contraceptive pill, and beta-blockers. Environmental factors play a part too and at this time of year having the central heating on too high creates a dry atmosphere and the old remedy of having bowls of water in the room is a good one. These days it is less common, but cigarette smoke is an aggravation as are driving or spending a long time in front of a television or computer. These last activities mean fixed vision, which gives you a low blink rate and that can lead to drying out of the tear film.

If you are suffering and have tried other eye drops, then there is a new solution that might help. Rohto® Dry Eye Relief combines Hyaluronic Acid and Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide in a unique clinically proven natural bi-polymer called HydraMed developed by the same Japanese company that brought us Deep Heat,that much loved English favourite remedy for aching muscles. Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring polymer found within the human eye that has incredible water attracting properties. It can draw 3,000 times its own weight in water which greatly reduces evaporationand hence fluid loss from the eye. The two ingredients provides effective symptom relief by both lubricating the eye and helping to stabilise the tear film. The combination of the two natural ingredients means more fluid is trapped on the surface of the eye so it improves symptoms of stinging and grittiness as well as reducing damage to the surface of the eye. In a small clinical trial patients found it improved their eye condition by over 56 per cent and as it comes in a daily dose vial it is convenient to carry in your pocket or bag.

You should find it in pharmacies, but if you want more information visit the company’s website at www.rohto.co.uk