Weekly
Healthy Advice From VÄXA
April is Women's
Eye Health Month
Most men and women
will experience some deterioration in vision during their
lifetime. However, women may have added bothersome eye problems
at certain times, such as during hormonal changes of pregnancy
or menopause:
- A gritty feeling of something in the
eye when nothing's there
- Red, itchy, inflamed eyes
- Puffy or red, dry, itchy upper/lower
eyelids
- Tiny whitehead-like blisters on skin
surrounding eyes
- Dandruff-like particles on eyelids
- Cloudy mucus discharge
- Extreme sensitivity to light or smoke
- Tears from the corners of the eyes
These can all be symptoms of Dry Eye
Syndrome and its often-accompanying skin condition, Blepharitis.
Dry Eye and related symptoms occur two to three times more
often in women than in men.
Natural Treatment and Relief for Dry Eye and Blepharitis
Dry Eye Syndrome can come and go, but sometimes it's here
to stay, especially beginning with menopause. Over-the-counter
eye drops work only temporarily.
Blepharitis is a form of dermatitis causing many irritations
on the skin nearest the eyes the most sensitive skin in the
facial area or occurring painfully inside the eyelid. Blepharitis
may come with Dry Eye but can also be caused by an overgrowth
of yeast or bacteria. It is often mistakenly treated with
hydrocortisone creams, which usually even say on the label
Keep away from eyes. Prolonged use of hydrocortisone cream
can thin this sensitive skin, making it more prone to afflictions,
and can also cause cataracts.
Dry Eye and Blepharitis often indicate vitamin and nutritional
deficiencies. But there is safe, natural and homeopathic help
for Dry Eye and Blepharitis! Our eye-related health can be
improved by supplementing these naturally occurring vitamins
and nutrients:
- Vitamin E: An excellent protector of
vision and the skin around our eyes. It has extensive
antioxidant power i.e., it keeps free radicals from invading
and damaging healthy living cells.
- Lutein: This antioxidant should occur
in the human body naturally, but becomes deficient due
to poor diet, health or aging. Lutein can be found in
dark green, leafy vegetables and egg yolks, but we can't
(or don't) eat enough of them.
- L-Glutathione: Japanese research has
shown that most cases of cataracts seem to have something
to do with a deficiency in this antioxidant.
- Omega-3: This Essential Fatty Acid
can be found in flaxseed oil, walnuts, salmon, soybeans,
winter squash – foods most of us don't think about eating
often. Omega-3 can be supplemented with fish oils and
is found in some soft-gel vitamin E caplets.
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