What is the Eyelid?

New Discoveries about Eyelids, Blink Rate, Dry Eye and Computers

Dry eye, in the United States and worldwide, is becoming a crisis. Eighty-percent of eye doctor patients complain of dry eye symptoms such as itching, burning, blurred vision, red eyes, headache and fatigue. The importance of the eyelid in dry eye has only recently been recognized. Researchers are discovering that if the tear film is dry, the eyelids will also be dry. This is especially true in chronic dry eye and in people who live in areas of extreme dry air or air pollution, or who spend a lot of time indoors.

The eyelid is critical in two areas of dry eye research:

1. Blink rate: Dry eye and tear film dehydration can result from a low rate of eyelid blinking. It may also result from an excessively high blink rate.

2. Eyelid health: The majority of dry eye patients have unhealthy and dry eyelids (blepharitis).

Blink rate. When using a computer, the eyelid's blink rate, normally 15 to 20 blinks a minute, can slow to three blinks a minute. This is a primary cause of "computer vision syndrome" (CVS). A low blink rate increases exposure of the tear film to the air, increasing the amount of tear film water lost to evaporation.

Tear film evaporation and dehydration can also be worsened by a rapid blink rate. A normal tear film consists of a thin lipid (oil) layer that helps slow evaporation from the much thicker aqueous (water) layer underneath. Because blinking "wipes" the tear film and moves the layers, a rapid blink rate, like a low blink rate, can increase water evaporation and the potential for dehydration and dry eye.

Eyelid health. Researchers are discovering an enormous mutual influence between the tear film and eyelid health. Dry eye is frequently accompanied by blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), with red, inflamed, flaky, burning, itching and dry eyelids. When attempting to alleviate dry eye, it is important to add supplemental water not only to the tear film but to the eyelids.

A new paradigm in eye moisture. For those at high risk for dry eye, both the tear film and the eyelids should be kept hydrated with an all-natural, pure water eye mist supplement. Nature's Tears EyeMist, from Bio-Logic Aqua Research, is a patented new approach to all-natural eye and eyelid hydration. The mist naturally supplements the tear film to soothe dry eye and dry eyelid - no matter how often you blink.

Nature's Tears EyeMist contains 100% all-natural tissue culture grade water. The mist is applied in seconds and is non-allergenic; saline, chemical and preservative free. The product instantly hydrates dry eyes and dry eyelids to supplement tear film and eyelid moisture. Nature's Tears EyeMist - a new paradigm that within a decade, will be found beside every computer.

Research is continuing on the relationship between dry eye, refractive eye surgery and tear film flooding from the application of formulated eye drops

To discover more about dry eye, dry eyelid, blink rates and the tear film, see The Dry Eye Remedy by Robert Latkany, MD (Hatherleigh Press, 2007), or visit www.naturestears.com. For information about the Nature's Tears EyeMist patent, go to http://biologicaqua.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/first-patent-on-water-eye-mist-for-dry-eye/