Have you ever experienced the discomfort of dry eyes? That scratchy, burning, achy, stinging, throbbing, arid, sand in the eye feeling that interferes with vision and often causes headaches discomfort? Hopefully, you haven’t, but since three guys have talked with me about in the past month alone, it seems evident that it must be a fairly common problem, so I did my research.
What I found out was very enlightening, and something we should all be aware of no matter our age. Although dry eye syndrome typically targets people 50 years and older, it can occur at any age. And even though it affects women twice as much as men, one and a half million men in the US suffer with dry eye everyday, and that’s only those who see a doctor. It’s obviously an issue, but, fortunately, one that’s manageable if diagnosed and treated properly.
Dry eye is a condition where the eye is dry due to too little tear production, or when tears are not the right consistency and evaporate too quickly. The situation is a very disturbing one, for not only is there substantial pain in the eyes and head, but vision can be permanently compromised or damaged if left untreated for too long.
Causes of dry eye run the gamut, from certain medications to LASIK surgery to Parkinson Disease. Because there are so many different causes of this condition, an eye doctor or general practitioner should be seen for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Many folks treat dry eye with artificial tears without knowing the cause of the problem. Although using drops may be the solution, often they are just a way of managing the condition instead of solving it, so take care of business ASAP.
That being said, I’m going to dive into men’s most common causes of dry eye and some popular natural remedies should anyone be interested in trying or discussing them with your doctor. It makes sense to address this issue at home by eliminating or changing certain lifestyles, but if you find you can’t get to the bottom of things, see a doctor, since we’re talking about our all-important eyes.
Dry Eye Causes
- Side effects of certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, anti-depressants, blood pressure meds, tranquilizers, and more. Some of these medications “dry” us up, which can adversely affect moisture of the eye.
- Allergies
- Infrequent blinking from staring at computer and video screens. You know who you are!
- Contact lenses. There are some that address moisture issues, but it may come down to wearing eyeglasses instead.
- Eye Strain caused by incorrect vision prescription, insufficient lighting, etc. Keep up with eye exams to stay current with eyewear prescriptions, and turn on the lights when using the computer, cell phone, and TV.
- Refractive surgery known as LASIK, which should only be temporary for several months.
- Lower levels of testosterone. Do I have your attention now?! This is a major cause of dry eye in both men and women. Yes, it’s true and often overlooked, so if nothing else seems to be the culprit, have your testosterone levels checked regardless of your age. Supplemental testosterone could be the answer.
There are many other causes of dry eye, but these are some of the most common and easily corrected reasons. Never stop taking prescription medication unless directed by a doctor.
Natural Remedies and Practical Approaches
- Make sure you’re hydrated. Drink the appropriate amount of water for your weight – not more because of electrolyte depletion.
- Lubricate with omega fats. Omega oils are extremely important and lubricate our bodies much the same way motor oil lubes a car engine. And since you wouldn’t consider driving without oil in the engine, don’t try to function without these critical oils either.
- Recommended oils for dry eye: high quality, omega 3, molecularly distilled fish oil (at least as much as the bottle suggests, but taking more, especially in the beginning of treatment, may be beneficial).
- Ground Flaxseed is another good source of omega 3; however, if you can take fish oil, it’s a better source of omega 3.
- Black Current Seed or Borage Oil are excellent oils for inflammation and adrenal (hormone) balancing. Depending on the strength, I’d initially take double what the bottle says, and then reduce the amount after signs of improvement.
- Beta Carotene Complex: 25,000 i.u. daily, plus a carrot a day. Ok, you don’t have to eat the carrot, but they sure are good for eyes!
- Always take oil supplements with food for better absorption.
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to control tear evaporation.
- Use indoor air filters to trap dust and other particles that can cause eye dryness.
- Use a humidifier.
- Limit use of hair dryers.
- Avoid smoke.
Dry eye is nothing to take lightly. There may be a simple explanation, but if it persists, please see a doctor sooner than later. Stopping the pain and protecting the health and integrity of our eyes is a top priority. We’d love to hear any tips or information regarding dry eye that you may have to share.
by Aaron Marino
