Posts Tagged ‘Dry Eye’

Vitamin & Nutrition Corner: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are a group of nutrients that are extremely important in the function of cells, muscles, nerves and organs.  They also influence blood pressure and other cardiovascular functions through their ability to interact with hormone controls.   An “essential” fatty acid is one that our bodies can’t make naturally and must be obtained by consuming food.   Two such categories of  “essential” fatty acids are Omega-3 and Omega-6.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in high proportions within the cell membranes in the retina and they play an important role in regenerating pigments within the retinal cells responsible for vision.   A deficiency of Omega-3’s could lead to decreased visual performance in certain situations.   Omega-3’s have also been identified as an important factor in Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which is a leading cause of permanent blindness in America.   Two recent articles, highlighting studies in Australia, showed that higher consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids were correlated with significantly lower risk for AMD.

Omega-3 fatty acids have also demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory properties in the treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome.  A 2005 study at Brigham and Women’s Hopsital of Boston showed that increased consumption of omega-3 significantly reduced symptoms associated with Dry Eye Syndrome.   The study also showed that patients who consumed tuna 5-6 times a week had almost a 70% reduction in symptoms compared to those who only consumed tuna once a week.

With respect to general health, Omega-3’s have been found to lower triglycerides and the American Diabetes Association now recommends diabetics increase their fatty acid intake by consuming 3 oz. of fish 2 to 3 times a week.

In general, the American diet shows a significant deficiency in Omega-3 fatty acids.   However, there are some easy ways to change that.   One of the greatest sources is the consumption of cold water fish.   Salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, and halibut show the greatest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, while other types of fish have much lower amounts.    Fish oil supplements have recently become popular and may serve as an alternative to consuming fish.   Flax seed may even be a better source of certain Omega-3’s, and may be found through Flax seed oil supplements.   In a future post, I will touch on how Omega-6 fatty acid and its ratio to Omega-3 is also important in maintaining ocular health.

How Much Omega-3 fatty acids?

  • 1-2 grams per day
  • or 4-5 servings of fish per week, depending on the type of fish

Where to get Omega-3 fatty acids?

  • Cold water fish:   salmon, herring, mackerel, tuna, halibut
  • Fish oil supplements
  • Flax seed oil supplements

What are the Benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids?

Reduced triglycerides

Possible reduction of blood pressure or other cardiovascular disease risks

Lowered risk for ischemic stroke

Lowered risks for Age-related Macular Degeneration

Improvement of Dry Eye Syndrome

Possible improvement of retinal function in vision

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Vitamin & Nutrition Corner: Vitamin A

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

An essential component to ocular health:  Vitamin A

If you ever walk by the vitamin and supplements aisle of the grocery store, you’ll notice dozens of brands specifically promoting eye health.   Which of these vitamins are important to eye health?   How much should you take?    What happens if you get too little or too much of these vitamins?   These are all great questions that I hope to answer with the ‘Vitamin & Nutrition Corner.’

First up is Vitamin A, which is a pivotal nutrient for eye health.   Vitamin A is important in the function of both the exterior and interior portions of the eye.

For example, Vitamin A plays a large role in regulating the make up of your tear or moisture film on the surface of your eye.   Vitamin A is also an antioxidant which reduces oxidative stress on the surface of your eye from environmental conditions and aging.   As a result, a deficiency of vitamin A may lead to dry, irritated eyes.

Vitamin A is also essential for your retina to function properly.  It combines with proteins in your retinal cells that are responsible for absorbing light, especially during night vision.     A lack of Vitamin A would result in diminished or delayed visual ability to adapt during low light conditions, aka night blindness.  Vitamin A also serves as an antioxidant within the retina to reduce chemical stress and it was part of the National Eye Institute’s formula of vitamins used in its landmark study on Macular Degeneration.

No discussion of Vitamin A is complete without talking about Beta-carotene, which is a precursor that is metabolized by your body into vitamin A.   Beta-carotene is found in plants with orange pigments:   carrots, apricots, canteloupe, chili peppers, and sweet potatoes.

When we discuss vitamins, it’s important to note that excessive intake of any vitamin can actually be toxic to your body.   Taking megadoses of vitamins should be avoided until it’s discussed in detail with your primary care physician.    Getting more than 6000 IU of Vitamin A on a daily basis is considered excessive.   Since Vitamin A competes with Vitamin D’s role in bone health, excessive Vitamin A may lead to osteoporosis.  Excessive Vitamin A may also cause fatigue, joint soreness, upset stomach, and irritability.   Smokers should avoid Beta-carotene as it may increase the risk of lung cancer with tobacco use.   Smokers should take vitamin supplements that substitute Lutein in place of Vitamin A.

Yet, consuming proper amounts of Vitamin A or beta-carotene is an important means of keeping your eyes and your body in great health.

How much Vitamin A:

  • The recommended dose is between 1200-5000 IU.

Where to get Vitamin A:

  • Beef and chicken liver are HUGE sources of vitamin A
  • Milk, margarine, and eggs
  • Via Beta-carotene consumption from fresh carrots, canteloupe, etc.
  • Synthetic vitamin supplements

Benefits of Vitamin A:

  • Decreased ocular dryness
  • Better antioxidant protection of the eyes against environmental and aging stress
  • Proper retinal function during night vision
  • Promotion of better macular health in patients with Macular Degeneration
  • Improved bone and teeth development
  • Better skin function, especially during wound healing
  • Improves resistance to respiratory infections
  • Promotes proper testicular and ovarian function

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‘Tis the Season…for Dry Eyes

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

With the holidays now passed, you can finally feel winter weather settling in—especially this past week.     And with this early January weather, you might start asking yourself a few questions:   Why did I eat so many Christmas cookies?   Can I retire my reindeer sweater till next year? … And why do my eyes feels so dry?

Although ocular dryness can be a year round issue for some individuals, for others it can be seasonal.  Several factors help create this problem in the winter:

  • Dry, gusty winds:  it seems this is a trademark of Hampton Roads’ winters.  What we lack in snow, we seem to make up for in wind.   If not wearing eye protection, these winds can disrupt the quality and quantity of the tear film that is needed to cover and comfort your eyes.
  • Home and Automobile Heaters:  these create constant circulations of dry, hot air that can wreak havoc on your eyes
  • Dehydration:  drinking water and keeping hydrated is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer
  • Cold Medicines:  winter weather brings winter sniffles and the use of over-the-counter cold remedies.   Many of these medicines will create varying levels of ocular dryness.

Thankfully, you have many options to treat seasonal Dry Eye Syndrome and get your eyes feeling comfortable again.

The most obvious option is over-the-counter artificial tears, with the warning that not all tear drops are created equal.   In fact, no one tear drop brand is best suited for every individual.   I take the approach of matching the tear brand (based on its preservatives, its thickness, and its chemical composite) to the patient’s individual symptoms, severity of dryness, and associated findings.   One of my most highly recommended brands is Systane Ultra, but there are several others that may be more appropriate based on the individual circumstances.

Yet, the one thing I’d recommend for everyone:   KICK VISINE AND CLEAR EYES TO THE CURB! Drops labeled “gets the red out” are typically constricting the blood vessels on the surface of your eye and creating the risk for more symptoms over the long term.

Often, over-the-counter tear drops may not alleviate all your symptoms.   This is where prescription eye drops earn their keep.  The type and dosing of these prescription drops will depend on the symptoms and findings, but they are often very effective in controlling the ocular dryness and/or stimulating extra tear production.    Yet another option is Punctal Occlusion, whereby the drainage ducts of the eye are temporarily occluded to prevent your tears from leaving the surface of the eye.   This is also quite effective in getting your eyes away from feeling the ‘winter blues.’

As always, I’d love to hear from you with any questions or comments.  Take care.

Dr. Beach

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