Tag Archives: dry eye symptoms

Dr Michael Lange endorses Oasis Tears for dry eyes.

18 Jan

 

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DR. Michael Lange started Lange eye care and Associates March 15 1993. He opened 13 eye care centers in Florida and credits his success to hard work, dedication, sacrifice and nutritional eye care . Dr Michael Lange is an optometric physician and also a certified nutrition specialist. He has developed an extremiely busy geriatric population based eye care practice in The Villages Florida called The Lange Eye Institute. Dr Lange says one thing almost everyone of his patients has in common is dry eye . The Lange Eye Institute and Dr Michael Lange have developed an all natural approach to dry eyes that brings patients from all over the country. Patients are looking for alternative natural cost effective approaches to help their dry eyes instead of expensive drugs and procedures that are promoted strongly in the eye care industry. Dr Michael Lange states we spend time with patients analyzing their diet and looking for food sensitivities , teach lid hygiene, recommend specific supplements that help decrease oxidation and inflammation in the eye and promote a healthier tear film. We teach natural ways of opening the meibomian glands that will also lead to a healthier test film. Dr Lange states the number one fastest way to help a dry eye patient is to recommend the proper lubrication system! This is the fastest way to get dry eye relief. Most patients are buying multiple otc brands of artificial tears that have heavy synthetic preservatives and can actually irritate the eye if used frequently. Dr Lange has tried every type of artificial tear on the market and now recommends The Oasis Tears family of lubricating eye drops. His two favorite are Oasis Tears Plus and the all new Oasis Tears PF in a unique dropper bottle. Oasis tears seem to last much longer than any other brand on the market and actually have an amazing soothing effect on dry eyes. You can purchase Oasis Tears at The Lange Eye Institute , Fortifeye vitamin distribution center in Ocala or go to http://www.fortifeye.com and order online.Www.fortifeye.com

call for an appointment to see Dr Michael Lange or any of the doctors at The Lange Eye Institute at 352 753-4014

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Dr. Michael Lange in front of The Lange Eye Institute in The Villages Florida. The Dry Eye Capital!

 

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Dehydration and Dry Eyes

1 Jan

Are we a dehydrated society? Can much of our dry eye symptoms be related to dehydration? by Dr. Michael Lange, Optometric Physician and certified nutrition specialist

How much water do you drink a day? What type of water do you drink? What other beverages do you drink routinely during a day? When is the last time your doctor asked you these questions? The typical American is not getting proper hydration throughout the day. Many of our health issues and symptoms could be related to chronic dehydration. Some studies indicate that as high as 75% of Americans are dehydrated. Some symptoms of dehydration are mood swings, depression, dry mouth, dry eyes, dry skin, weakness, dizziness, heart palpitations, confusion, cognitive problems, fatigue , heart burn, head aches, decreased urine out put, dark yellow urine, just to mention a few. We lose water every day through water vapor in our breath as we exhale, urine, perspiration and in our stools. When we lose water we also lose electrolytes. A deficiency or unbalance in our electrolytes can further aggregate a dehydrated condition. Most Americans drink large amounts of coffee, tea, alcohol and sodas which act as diuretics and can bring on a dehydrated state very quickly.

hydrate with coconut water and spring water in glass bottes

hydrate with coconut water and spring water in glass bottes

So what do you drink? I recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces of water. However the water that you pick is crucial. I recommend avoiding the tap water do to toxic chemicals like Chlorine, fluoride and aluminum just to mention a few. These consumed daily all have potentially long-term toxic effects. I advise my patients to drink spring water that is in glass bottles. Spring water has a relatively high ph and contains minerals that are crucial for proper hydration. Stay away from drinking large amounts of reverse osmosis, distilled water or purified bottled water. The reverse osmosis system and distillation makes a very pure water however it has too acidic of a ph and is void of any minerals. I am also concerned about the potential contamination with bisphenols from the plastics that are used in the membranes of RO systems. Some experts feel that if you consume large amounts of reverse osmosis water or distilled water that it may cause leaching of minerals from you body. If you are on a well I recommend putting a commercial grade UV system to kill any potential pathogens, a whole house carbon filter to get rid of potential chemicals and a potassium softener. Depending on what part of the country you live in would also determine whether or not a radon filtration system needs to be incorporated into your well water. If you drink the proper water you will be healthier and potentially have less dry eye symptoms as well.

There is a link between decreased potassium and dry eyes. If you are dehydrated then your electrolytes including potassium will also be low. This is one reason I recommend dry eye patients drinking a couple of glasses of organic coconut water daily. Coconut water is an ideal natural way to hydrate the body that has plenty of potassium. Many new studies suggest that coconut water hydrates the body just as well as the commercial sports drinks. A recent study also indicates drinking coconut water may help to lower cholesterol. I prefer the coconut water to any commercial sports drinks. The sports drinks are filled with sugar, artificial dyes and potential bisphenols from the plastics. All of these things in these sports drinks may cause endocrine disruption and this could aggravate a dry eye condition. My very athletic patients I sometimes recommend adding a pinch of celtic sea salt to their coconut water. If you are athletic you will need to hydrate more frequently than normal. Celtic sea salt is raw unrefined sea salt with no additives that is filled with trace minerals. I always recommend speaking with your physician before adding salt to your water. What about coffee?? Recent studies suggest that one cup of coffee a day may help with dry eye symptoms but more will actually act as a diuretic.

Proper nutrition for dye eyes is an area that I enjoy discussing with all of my patients. I have seen some remarkable dry eye improvements in patients that simply start hydrating more with the proper fluids and avoiding the bad fluids. I have also seen some amazing overall health improvements with these same patients.

In summary drink half your body weight in ounces of water. Drink spring water from glass bottles. If you drink spring water in plastic bottles then store and drink at room temperature. Drink a couple of glasses of coconut water a day. Avoid drinking tap water. If you must drink tap water at least run it through a carbon filter to minimize some of the chemical contaminants. Well water should be run through a commercial grade Uv system, whole house carbon filter and a potassium softener. Try not to consume large amounts of reverse osmosis or distilled water. Nutrition for dry eyes also consists of consuming 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. I also recommend taking a good triglyceride form omega 3 fish oil with an EPA of 850-900 and DHA of 550-600. I recommend Fortifeye Super Omega since it falls in this range and is only $27 a bottle. http://www.fortifeye.com I have done omega index studies using Fortifeye Super Omega proving two per day dosing will move the omega index to a true therapeutic level over 9%. Omega 3 for dry eyes and omega index blood testing will be another article on this site in the future.

Drink to your health !
Proper nutrition for dry eyes is a start in the right direction.

Michael Lange OD, CNS
1/1/2015

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Dry Eye Nutrition discussed by Dr. Michael Lange Optometrist

29 Dec

Dr. Michael Lange in front of The Lange Eye Institute in The Villages Florida. The Dry Eye Capital!

Dr. Michael Lange in front of The Lange Eye Institute in The Villages Florida. The Dry Eye Capital!


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
Fortifeye water is a high ph mineral water coming from Orange Springs Florida, uv, microfiltered and ozonated in a Bispheol free bottle.

Fortifeye water is a high ph mineral water coming from Orange Springs Florida, uv, microfiltered and ozonated in a Bisphenol free bottle.

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.

Paleo diet, wild Alaskan salmon, organic green beans, organinc salad

Paleo diet, wild alaskan salmon, organinc green beans, organic salad

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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