The Good Cry
May is Healthy Vision Month. To celebrate, we’d like to bring you to tears. Tears are more than just an emotional release; they actually play an important role in eye health. Dry Eye disease is a condition where the eyes do not produce the right quantity or quality of ears, which can have an impact on daily activities like reading, driving or using a computer. It is one of the most common, yet under-diagnosed, ocular diseases. If left untreated, it can lead to more serious problems, including increased risk of eye infection and even impaired vision.
The tear film consists of three layers: an outer, oily (lipid) layer that keeps tears from evaporating too quickly and helps tears remain on the eye; a middle (aqueous) layer that nourishes the cornea and conjunctiva; and a bottom (mucin) layer that helps to spread the aqueous layer across the eye to ensure that the eye remains wet. As we age, the eyes usually produce fewer tears. Also, in some cases, the lipid and mucin layers produced by the eye are of such poor quality that tears cannot remain in the eye long enough to keep the eye sufficiently lubricated.
Women suffer from Dry Eye disease more than men because of hormonal changes due to aging and menopause. Other medical conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjorgens (an autoimmune disease) can also have an effect on Dry Eye disease. Symptoms can vary and include: stinging, burning, scratchy sensation, sensitivity to light, tearing, tired eyes and blurred vision. Often, symptoms worsen at the end of the day or after visually focusing for a prolonged period of time on a task.
Although many associate tears with emotional health, the main function of tears is to lubricate the eyes to ensure clear vision and protection from bacteria and environmental irritants. Author Tish Cohen and Harper Collins Canada recently released a list of Top-10 Tearjerker novels to drive awareness about the important role tears play in our eye health and celebrate those sentimental stories that make us cry.
Top 10 Tearjerkers of all time:
1. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
2. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
3. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
4. Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
5. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
8. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
9. Charlotte’s Web by E B White
10. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
According to the National Eye Institute, other ways to treat Dry Eye include using humidifiers, wearing wrap-around glasses when outside, and avoiding outside windy and dry conditions. For people with severe cases of dry eye, temporary or permanent closure of the tear drain (small openings at the inner corner of the eyelids where tears drain from the eye) may be helpful.
p.s. All of the above books have been made into movies so if you’re unable to read the book, rent the movie and grab the kleenex.
****
The M&S Smart System Computerized Vision Testing system is the top choice for the forward-thinking eye care professional. Check and see if your eye doctor carries our system and, if not, tell them about M&S!
Have a thought about this article? Contact Us and let us know.