DRYeye Forte – Patented Systemic Relief for Dry Eye Syndrome
Do your eyes frequently feel dry, gritty, burning or irritated? You could be one of the millions suffering from dry eye syndrome. This chronic condition occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough quality tears to keep them lubricated.
What is Dry Eye?
There are two forms of Dry eye Syndrome. The first occurs because we don’t produce enough tears, known as Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye. The second occurs because we can’t maintain our tear film quality long enough, the latter is known as Evaporative Dry Eye.
85-90% of Dry Eye Syndrome in Australia is caused by Evaporative Dry Eye and the prevalence of dry eyes increases with age. At 65 years old, we have 60% less oil in our bodies than we did as teenagers.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye symptoms are common in Australia and left unaddressed, they can become a debilitating condition. Dry eye symptoms include:
- Sandy, gritty or burning feeling
- Itching or stinging
- Redness of the eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Contact lens discomfort
- Fatigue or aching eyes
- Decreased tolerance for reading or working on computers
- Filmy, blurred vision
- Heavy eyelids
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?
As well as being caused by the normal ageing of tear glands, dry eye syndrome can also occur due to extended contact lens wear, medications, symptoms of menopause, eye surgery, seasonal and environmental factors, air pollution, air travel, computer-related eye strain, inadequate diet and other factors.
Contact Lens Wear
Since contact lenses rest directly on the cornea, wearing contact lenses for extended periods can cause a decrease in the amount of oxygen that reaches your eye. Bacteria and other infection-causing agents can accumulate on contact lenses, especially as lenses get older and deposits build up on their surfaces, contributing to inflammatory issues. Contact lens solutions that contain preservatives can also irritate the corneal surface, causing dry eye symptoms. Contact Lenses themselves can disrupt the eye’s tear film and oil layer, leading to faster evaporation of tears. In summary contact lenses can cause physical damage to the surface of the eyes while delaying our natural healing responses at the same time.
Medications
Dry eye can be a side effect of some medications. Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications are known to reduce tear production as a side effect, including antihistamines, nasal decongestants, sedatives, certain blood pressure medications, beta-blockers certain antibiotics, Parkinson’s medications, birth control pills, diuretics, appetite suppressants and antidepressants among others.
Hormonal Changes
Changes in tear film production can cause dry eyes in women who have symptoms of menopause. Women on hormone replacement therapy may also experience dry eye symptoms. Women taking oestrogen are 70 percent more likely to experience dry eyes, and those taking oestrogen and progesterone have a 30 percent increased risk of developing dry eyes.
Before menopause, it is understood that the greater a woman’s testosterone, the fewer tears produced and the greater their oestrogen, the greater tears produced. During menopause, however, this reverses.
Research is emerging about the role hormones play in the lubrication of eyes, but it is understood that dry eyes can result from a deficiency in oestrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, or possibly from an imbalance of all three.
Fluctuating hormone levels can alter the eye’s tear production and oil output. Women also often experience dry eyes due to hormone imbalances during pregnancy, postpartum, menstrual cycles and with oral contraceptive use.
LASIK & Eye Surgeries
Dry eye is an extremely common complication of eye surgery such as LASIK, with more than half of all patients experiencing dry eyes after the procedure. LASIK causes some nerves in the cornea to be cut, which reduces corneal sensitivity to some degree. In response, your eyes may not sense the need for lubrication, causing the body to produce fewer tears leading to dry eye syndrome.
Dry eyes after LASIK can cause discomfort and less than optimal visual outcomes, due to reduced aqueous tear production and delayed wound healing. The condition could self-resolve after a few months; however, in some cases, dry eye symptoms can continue for years after the operation.
Cataract surgery has also been found to exacerbate pre-existing dry eye and induce dry eye in patients with healthy corneas. As with LASIK and other eye surgeries, postoperative dry eyes can affect visual outcomes and recovery time.
Environmental Factors
Dry eye can be a symptom of chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane lining the eyelid and covering the front part of the eye or the lacrimal gland. Chronic conjunctivitis can be caused by exposure to certain irritants such as air pollution, drafts, from air conditioning or heating, or seasonal allergies.
Dry air, high altitudes, cold or windy conditions, and low humidity environments can all accelerate tear evaporation. This makes dry eyes more prevalent in seasonal winters, desert climates, and in low-humidity office spaces.
Computer-Related Eye Strain
The normal blink rate in the human eye is 16 to 22 blinks per minute. Studies have shown that the blink rate decreases to as low as 6 to 8 blinks per minute for people working on the computer screen. Infrequent blinking associated with staring at computer or video screens can lead to dry eye symptoms.
Also, the focusing effort required for extended periods of computer work strains the ciliary muscles in the eye, further exacerbating inflammatory issues.
Air Travel
The low humidity levels in aeroplane cabins combined with the already dry, recirculated air causes an increase in aqueous tear film evaporation that intensifies dry eye symptoms. Increases in evaporative rates during air travel are experienced by people with existing dry eye issues and by people with no previous history of dry eye syndrome. Duration and frequency of flying increase the likelihood of dry eye syndrome.
Nutrition Deficiencies
Increasingly, research has demonstrated the critical role nutrition can play in providing systemic support and relief for dry eyes.
EPA and DHA
Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid, a major building block of cell membranes important for the brain and nervous system, visual development and retinal function. Clinical evidence demonstrates the importance of omega-3 essential fatty acids in treating dry eye syndrome. The two most important dietary omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These two essential fatty acids help to augment both the watery aqueous and oily lipid layers or tear film.
They also play a significant role in stabilising the tear film by improving tear quality and reducing evaporative loss. EPA and DHA also play a critical role in anti-inflammatory processes. The best source of these essential fatty acids is a re-esterified fish oil but often it is difficult to consistently consume the large amount of oily fish required to achieve a therapeutic effect.
GLA
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an essential fatty acid in the omega-6 family found primarily in plant-based oils. GLA has been found to play a key role in reducing dry eye symptoms but cannot be easily obtained from the typical diet. Linoleic acid, found in cooking oils and processed foods, can be converted in the body to GLA. However dietary and lifestyle factors such as sugar consumption, alcohol, aging and illness inhibit the body’s ability to make sufficient GLA on its own. Adequate GLA is required to maintain a healthy balance of anti-inflammatory signalling molecules in the body. GLA can be converted to anti-inflammatory prostaglandin, PGE1, which supports normal tear secretion.
Clinical studies report GLA reduces symptoms and calms inflammation in people with dry eyes. It helps to increase tear production and to increase anti-inflammatory prostaglandin levels. Combining the essential fatty acids from omega-3 fish oil with the critical omega-6 GLA from borage oil in balanced amounts helps block the formation of inflammatory prostagladins.
Vitamin D
Research has shown that Vitamin D deficiency is strongly associated with dry eye symptoms. This has led scientists to report that Vitamin D may play an important protective role in dry eye syndrome due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Supplementation with Vitamin D may be useful for dry eye symptoms including ocular discomfort, soreness, redness, ocular fatigue, sensitivity to light and blurred vision.
Researchers also suggest that Vitamin D may help prevent dry eyes by aiding the production of cathelicidin, an anti-microbial protein that can be produced by cells in the eyes and heal eye wounds.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E and particularly gamma-tocopherol have significant antioxidants and anti-inflammotory benefits. It is important to include Vitamin E in EPA/DHA supplements as it prevents oxidation of omega-3’s and optimises their metabolism; indeed, studies using fish oil have had superior results when a vitamin E supplements was also consumed. Vitamin E is also an important complement of EPA or DHA as the extended use of fish oil may increase the requirement for Vitamin E.
If you suffer from chronic dry, irritated eyes caused by dry eye syndrome, traditional eye drops and lubricants may only provide temporary, surface-level relief.
Introducing DRYeye Forte – a patented, high-potency oral supplement that targets the root causes of dry eyes from the inside out.
What is DRYeye Forte?
DRYeye Forte is an innovative, science-based formulation developed right here in Australia. Its unique blend of concentrated omega-3 EPA and DHA from sustainably sourced fish oil, omega-6 GLA from borage oil, vitamin D3, and vitamin E has been specifically designed to provide systemic relief for DRYeye syndrome.
While artificial tears simply mask symptoms, DRYeye Forte increases your body’s natural tear production, improves tear film quality, and reduces ocular inflammation. This patented formula works from within to hydrate, nourish, and restore optimal function to your eyes’ lubricating system.
Benefits of DRYeye Forte
- Increases aqueous tear production
- Improves lipid tear film quality
- Reduces inflammation of the eyes
- Systemically relieves chronic DRYeye
- May replace the need for eye drops/lubricants
- Ideal for contact lens intolerance, environmental DRYeye triggers, post-op healing, and menopausal DRYeye
- High quality, concentrated omega-3 and other essential fatty acids
- Mercury-free, sustainably sourced ingredients
- Australian-owned and manufactured to pharmaceutical standards
- Blister-sealed for maximum freshness and potency
Simple Dosage Instructions
For best results, adults should take 3 capsules of DRYeye Forte daily for the first 6-8 weeks to relieve dry eye symptoms. Then, the dosage can be reduced to 2 capsules per day for maintenance.
Don’t let chronic dry eyes diminish your quality of life any longer. Try the systemic dry eye relief of DRYeye Forte and experience hydrated, comfortable, well-nourished eyes from the inside out.
Order DRYeye Forte
DRYeye Forte is available for purchase on our website or in our Kincumber practice.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general eye health topics.
It should not be used as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your health care professional prior to incorporating this as part of your health regimen.
Dr Nicholas Altuneg
For over two decades, my greatest passion has been helping people of all ages live improved lives through better vision. At Eyes by Design, vision is so much more than being able to see clearly or read small letters from far away; it determines your perceptions and reactions every second of the day.
Read more about Dr Nick