Cold, Winter Air Can Cause Dry Eye Syndrome 

Millions of Americans experience discomfort associated with dry eye syndrome.  Dry eye is a condition where the tears produced by the eyes lack sufficient moisture and lubrication, which is necessary to maintain good eye health and clear vision.  Tears not only wash away dust from the eyes, but also soothe the eyes, provide oxygen and nutrients to the cornea, as well as help defend against eye infections by removing bacteria.

Dry eye syndrome can result when one or more of the eye's layers fail to produce the right quantity or balance of tears.  This condition has a multitude of causes but generally can stem from the following factors:

• Age: As Americans age, eyes naturally become drier. Consequently, the majority of people older than 65 experience some symptoms of dry eye.
• Gender: Women are more likely to develop dry eye with hormonal changes during pregnancy, while using oral contraceptives and following menopause.
• Medications: Decongestants, antihistamines and antidepressants are among numerous medications that can reduce tear production.
• Medical Conditions: Health issues associated with arthritis, diabetes, Sjögren's syndrome and thyroid problems can produce dry eye symptoms. 
• Environment: Dry climates and exposure to wind and smoke may trigger dry eye. It's also important to blink regularly, especially if you work at a computer for long periods of time.
• Eyewear/Surgery: In some cases, long-term wearing of contact lenses may cause dry eye (or make eyes less comfortable if they are dry), and previous eye surgery, such as LASIK, may lead to a temporary decrease in tear production.
• Cosmetics: When the lid margin is coated with heavy makeup, it can block the openings of the oily glands, which help lubricate the eye.

Treatment for dry eye syndrome varies depending on the severity.  Some people can use artificial tears or similar eye drops or ointments that simulate the action of tears, but most will require therapeutic agents prescribed by their optometrist. There are also oral capsules that can help the eyes maintain tear production and guard against future tear loss. 

Additionally, you can help alleviate symptoms of dry eye by following a more holistic approach, such as:

• Eating fish or taking a nutritional supplement that contains polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• Increasing humidity in your home and/or office.
• Blinking more frequently, especially when reading or staring at a computer screen, as well as lowering the screen to at or below eye level.
• Wearing sunglasses with wraparound frames to reduce exposure to wind and sun.
• Drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Several new studies have confirmed the correlation between fatty acids and an improvement in dry eye syndrome.  Salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel and other cold-water fish are rich in essential fatty acids and can help reduce inflammation, enhance tear production and support the eye's oily outer layer as well as provide health benefits for your cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems.

--James B. Mayer, O.D., F.C.O.V.D.
     Agape Learning & Optometry Center
     Thousand Oaks, CA   91360

National Diabetes Month

November is National Diabetes Month.  I encourage anyone who has, or may be at risk for, diabetes to have an annual eye examination.

Diabetes affects 18.2 million Americans, 5.2 million of which may not know they have the disease.  One of the health problems associated with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, a disease of the eye which can cause blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy can weaken and cause changes in the blood vessels that nourish the retina.  Symptoms may include blurred vision, cloudiness and/or “floaters”.

Diabetes also increases a person’s risk for developing other eye diseases. Persons living with diabetes are 40% more likely to develop glaucoma and 60% more likely to develop cataracts.

The early stages of diabetic retinopathy may produce no visual symptoms at all.  That is why it is so important for anyone who has diabetes or a family history of diabetes to have a yearly comprehensive eye health examination. Early detection and treatment are essential because once damage has occurred, the effects are usually permanent.

---James B. Mayer, OD, FCOVD
     Agape Learning & Optometry Center
     Thousand Oaks, CA   91360

Computer Vision Syndrome

Some 100 million American workers are affected by computer eyestrain, a symptom of Computer Vision Syndrome.  March is Eye Safety in the Workplace month, and as our nation has moved from a manufacturing society to an information society, Computer Vision Syndrome has become a workplace concern.  While prolonged computer use will not damage vision, it can make you uncomfortable and decrease productivity.

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is caused by the eyes constantly focusing and refocusing on the characters on a computer screen. These characters don’t have the contrast or well-defined edges like printed words and the eyes’ focus cannot remain fixed.  Symptoms of CVS include headaches, loss of focus, burning or tired eyes, blurred vision and neck or shoulder pain.

CVS can be partially alleviated by changes in the ergonomics of the work area.  Proper lighting and monitor placement can go a long way toward reducing CVS, as can giving your eyes frequent “breaks” from the computer.  But the underlying cause of CVS – the ability of the eyes to focus on the computer screen – may only be remedied by specialized computer glasses.

A comprehensive eye exam, including questions about a person’s computer use habits is the first step.  If we determine that vision correction for computer use is required, we can prescribe computer lenses that are designed to improve your vision in the 18” – 28” range, the optimal distance between your eyes and the computer monitor.

Visual Difficulties after Brain Injury (Video)

Vision problems are among the most common problems associated with acquired brain injuries.   Causes of brain injury can include trauma, auto accidents, suffocation, drug reaction and strokes.  Initially symptoms may be subtle but often become more of a concern with time. Specific problems can include poor memory, disorientation, loss of reading skills or poor word recall.

Common visual symptoms after brain injury include:

• Double vision
• Headaches
• Blurry vision
• Dizziness or nausea
• Attention or concentration difficulties
• Staring behavior (low blink rate)
• Spatial disorientation
• Lose place when reading
• Can't find beginning of next line when reading
• Comprehension problems when reading
• Visual memory problems
• Pulling away from objects when they are brought close

Unfortunately conventional ophthalmological treatment for these difficulties is many times limited.  I have seen a number of patients told to cover one eye with a patch if they have double vision!!  Others with slow reading speed have been told to get books on tape!!  Some with attention and concentration difficulties are told to just accept it.

These difficulties can often be helped through the use of specialized lenses/prisms and/or optometric vision therapy.  If you have concerns for yourself or a relative, give me a call so we can discuss it further.


--James B. Mayer, OD, FCOVD
     Agape Learning & Optometry Center
     Thousand Oaks, CA

Dry, Scratchy Eyes

We have all felt the occasional dry eye - a gritty and/or sandy feeling.  A burning or sticky feeling is common, as are watery eyes.  Some folks experience these symptoms on a daily basis.  This can be a big problem for them.  It can also result in vision changes that can be devastating because of corneal inflammation and infection.  That is why it is very important to let me know if you experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis.

Dr. John Warren has put together a very nice slide show on this topic.  Click on the link to watch and learn about dry eye.

--James B. Mayer, OD, FCOVD
     Agape Learning & Optometry Center
     Thousand Oaks, CA

Evaporative Dry Eye & LipiFlow

Scratchy, burning, sandy, gritty are ways that many describe dry eye.  Vision can also be variable from this problem.  Approximately 65% of these problems are do to the tears evaporating from the eye too quickly.  The problem for these folks has to do with the meibomian gland production of oil for the tears.  The glands become plugged and the oil concentration in the eye reduces.  Tears evaporate quickly and this process causes many difficulties as noted above.

The current treatment for this problem involves artificial tears containing oil and lid massage with warm compress.  Generally this can work reasonably well but the treatment can be cumbersome.

Enter a new procedure just approved by the F.D.A. but not in eyecare offices yet. 
Lipiflow warms and massages the eyelids, melts the obstructive material clogging the glands and clears the blockage without damage to glands or other delicate structures of the eye.  It’s a 12-minute per eye procedure performed in a doctor’s office.  Opening the blocked eyelid glands allows the body to resume the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for the tear film.


For the first time, the LipiFlow’s single-use eyepiece allows controlled application of warmth and massage to the eyelids, treating the affected meibomian glands in the upper and lower lids simultaneously. The device is designed to facilitate removal of the meibomian gland blockage without damage to glands or negative impact to delicate structures of the eye.