Fortifeye Dry Eye Therapy,
a relief treatment for dry eye syndrome
A new dry
eye therapy is doctor formulated and has been
carefully designed to utilize the benefits of
both Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs
by Michael P. Lange O.D
|
"Fortifeye
Dry Eye Therapy could very well be the future
of dry eye therapy." —Michael
P. Lange O.D. |
Dry eye symptoms will affect the majority of us
at some time in our lives.
Dry eye syndrome
(keratoconjunctivitis sicca) is an imbalance between
tear production and tear drainage. This condition
affects nearly 60 million Americans.
Eyes that feel
sandy, gritty, burn, tear and itch can be symptoms
of dry eyes. Fluctuation in vision, contact lens
intolerance and recurrent infections can also
be related to dry eyes. Many things can further
aggrevate dry eyes such as environmental factors,
job, medications, systemic health problems, age
and eye surgery. Currently artificial tears and
prescription topical medications are the gold
standard for the treatment of dry eyes. In treating
dry eyes it is important to address the entire
system and not just treat topically. More and
more evidence now suggests that proper nutrition
may help to decrease the symptoms of dry eye and
quell the dry eye problem. Oral supplementation
with essential fatty acids (EFAs) is now rapidly
becoming an effective tool that Optometrists and
Ophthalmologists are using in clinical practice
to help with dry eyes. A synergistic balance between
Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs seems to work best for
dye eye patients.
Research has found that high dietary intake of
omega 3 EFAs decreases the risk of dry eyes. One
must be very careful today at increasing their
levels of Omega 3 EFAs by consuming more fish.
Fish can be contaminated with mercury, lead, PCBs
and other contaminants. Molecularly distilled
fish oil is a convenient and safe way of getting
the omega 3 EFAs. EPA and DHA are the two principal
fatty acids found in fish known as omega 3 fatty
acids. The current research suggests that it is
the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil that
may help with dry eye syndrome. EPA generates
the anti-inflammatory ecosanoids prostaglandin
E3 and leukotriene B5. EPA blocks the delta-5
desaturase enzymatic step that stops the conversion
of Omega 6 EFAs to the inflammatory cascade of
Arachidonic acid (AA), this allows more conversion
to anti- imflammatory prostaglandin E1 (PGE1).
PGE1 then binds to EP2 and EP4 receptors to activate
adenylate cyclase and increase cyclic AMP which
in turn stimulates tear production. The increase
in omega 3 EFAs have also shown to improve meibomian
gland dysfunction with a much thinner and clearer
meibomian gland secretion.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an essential fatty
acid (EFA) in the omega 6 family that is found
mainly in plant seed oils. The three most common
plant seed oils where GLA is found is borage seed
oil (20-27%), black currant seed oil ( 15-20%)
and evening primrose oil (7-14%). GLA is broken
down in the body to dihomogamma-liolenic acid
(DGLA) and arachidonic acid (AA). DGLA competes
with AA and prevents the negative inflammatory
effects that AA would otherwise cause. Adequate
amounts of magnesium, zinc and vitamins C, B3
and B6 help to promote the conversion of GLA to
DGLA rather than AA. Researchers in Japan have
shown that the addition of sesame lignans can
block the delta-5 desaturase enzyme that is responsible
for the inflamatory cascade of AA. Sesame lignans
when combined with fish oil enhances the anti-inflamatory
effects by protecting it from lipid peroxidation.
Many studies also suggest that cucummin from the
tumeric root and fish oil may also retard the
inflammatory cascade of AA. Once the AA pathway
is blocked the DGLA is free to convert to anti-inflammatory
prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and stimulation of tear
production occurs. Recent studies suggest that
oral GLA supplementation improved dry eye both
clinically and subjectively in patients with dry
eye syndrome. Studies also show that patients
that take a combination of linoleic acid (LA)
and gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) prior to and after
refractive surgery may have better tear production
and less dry eye complications.
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient to maintain
a healthy tear film. Vitamin A deficiency is a
cause of Goblet cell atrophy and loss of the important
mucin layer. The mucin layer is the most innermost
lubricating layer of tear film that is crucial
for a healthy tear film.
The potential benefits for current and future
dry eye sufferers from an oral nutritional supplement
for dry eye is huge. Fortify Vitamins Inc.
has developed a synergistic blend of the Omega
3 and Omega 6 EFAs that is based on the latest
research. This formula combines all of the cofactors
necessary to aid in the alleviation of signs and
symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Fortifeye Dry Eye
Therapy is doctor formulated and has been carefully
designed to utilize the benefits of both Omega
3 and Omega 6 EFAs. The Omega 3 oils are from
molecularly distilled norwegian fish for enhanced
purity. A natural spearment flavor is added to
avoid any after taste. Fortifeye Dry Eye Therapy
could very well be the future of dry eye therapy.
Michael P.
Lange O.D.
Lange Eye Care and Associates
