Dry Eye Nutrition

Dr. Michael Lange optometrist and certified nutrition specialist has been using the latest in nutrition for dry eye patients for many years. He has determined what dry eye nutrition protocol works best for his patients through years of clinical practice. Dr. Lange very rarely uses any traditional medication to help his dry eye patients. Dry eye symptoms will very from person to person but most will experience eyes that feel sandy, gritty, burn, tear, itch, fluctuation in vision, glare at night, frequent eye infections and red eyes. Most of these dry eye patients are using multiple otc and prescription eye drops that are costly and not very effective. First of all the typical American diet needs a dramatic overhaul. Most Americans are eating a diet that is high in calories and depleted of vitamins and minerals. The typical American is eating an omega six diet that creates inflammation in the body that can lead to inflammatory conditions like dry eye syndrome. The fastest treatment for dry eyes is the use of a good unpreserved artificial lubricant like oasis tears plus two to eight times per day depending on the severity of the dry eye. Proper lid hygiene is also crucial and when done correctly is very effective treatment for dry eyes. Warm compress to the eye for ten minutes three times a day while massaging the lid margins will help to break down the blocked Meibomian glands that will worsen a dry eye. Lid scrubs once or twice a day with occusoft lid scrub foam will help to eliminate the bacterial and viral flora that blocks the Meibomian glands. The addition of a new preservative free artificial tear called Retaine 10-15 minutes after the oasis tears will help severe dry eyes. The combination of oasis tears plus and retaine works well together to help improve the symptoms of the dry eye patient. Oasis tears and Retaine can be purchased at http://www.fortifeye.com

Most people are not getting the required amount of fluids to stay hydrated. Drinking half your body weight in ounces of filtered or spring water is necessary to insure the body isnt dehydrated according to Dr. Michael Lange optometrist and nutrition specialist with Lange Eye Care in Ocala Florida. Dr. Lange states to stay away from large amounts of distilled or reverse osmosis water do to the lack of minerals and the high acidity of the water. He recommends drinking bottled spring water or well water that has been purified with a carbon filter and uv system. Dr. Lange states it is ok to drink a few cups of coffee , studies prove that small amounts of caffeine is actually good for dry eyes. Two cups of coffee should be the maximum then substitute with a good organic green and white tea. Drink the green tea in the am and early afternoon and switch to white tea later in the day. The white tea has nutrients in the tea that helps relaxation. Coconut water is one of the best ways to hydrate naturally and gain some valuable electrolytes. Coconut water is a natural isotonic beverage that is the “fluid of life”. Coconut water is also very high in potassium and some studies indicate that a potassium deficiency may aggravate a dry eye. Stay away from colorful sugary sports drinks do to the potential endocrine disruption that may occur from the synthetic dyes and bisphenols that are in the plastic bottles.

Dr. Michael Lange stresses the importance of dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments to help curb the inflammatory cascade in our bodies. He recommends patients go on a gluten-free, organic, Paleo diet and try to get six to seven hours of good sleep. Sleep deprivation and being overweight are two contributing factors to elevated inflammatory markers in the blood. Dr. Lange states that if patients would simply follow this diet and sleep recommendations as strictly as possible a good portion of dry eye related symptoms would resolve. Patients will start to get down to their ideal body weight and their blood chemistries will start improving. Dr. Lange also recommends adding some specific nutrients to this dietary lifestyle adjustment. Adding Triglyceride form Omega 3 in a ratio fo EPA 860 and DHA of 580 (Fortifeye Super Omega) daily combined with 6mg of astaxanthin, 4mg of lutein and a zeaxanthin (fortifeye focus) daily to this lifestyle dietary change will benefit dry tired eyes. These two supplements are designed to be taken together to improve the bio availability of each. Patients must give this three to four months to take full effect. Most of these patients will also experience many other health benefits related to these supplements. Some of these benefits include improved skin health, less fine lines and wrinkles in the face, improvement in cholesterol, triglycerides and c-reactive protein, improved muscle endurance and muscle recovery,improved circulation to the eye, sun protection to the skin and eyes and improved focusing and accommodation of the visual system.

Dry eye nutrition has become one of Dr. Michael Lange’s areas of passion and he is continuously involved in ongoing research in this area. Dry eye nutrition is also an area that Optometrists and ophthalmologists are starting to discuss with their patients. Large amounts of continuing education is being taught at the conferences to eye care providers in this area. If you want to learn more about dry eye nutrition and u live in Florida come to any of the nine Lange Eye care locations. to learn more about Dry eye nutrition. go to http://www.fortifeye.com to learn more about Dr. Michael Lange Optometrist and Lange Eye Care go to http://www.langeeyecare.com, http://www.drmichaellange.com and to learn even more on nutrition for total body wellness go to http://www.dr-michael-lange-optometrist.com

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