I believe MGD is an Anemia Disease

[Plat]

Yes, no one knows the cause of diabetes, but nutirents are being theorized here as playing a role just as they are in dry eyes. Diabetes is defined as the bodies inability to produce insulin and regulate a normal blood glucose level. The reason why nutrients are so complicated is that there are so many of them so which one is causing the problem, if any, is hard to figure out. I think if these nutrients were controlled by the FDA and were prescription only, then they might be closer to a cure. Remeber it is all about the money, cures are bad for business.

[sighthound]

I realise that scientists/Drs are not the brightest people... but excuse me if I remain skeptical about someone who cannot differentiate 'there' and 'their'.

Also...not much point stating the minerals and vitamins which have helped you...without stating the dosages.

Rory,
If scientists/drs are not the brightest people, then who exactly is? Both professions actually do attract the brightest people. Do they have all the answers? Of course not. But any medical treatments that are available for dry eye at the moment have come from the work of scientists and drs. And only if at some point do they determine there is a link between mineral deficiency and mgd, will I be interested in the dosages.

[Plat]

Dr's have determined(theorized - because studies are vague) that there is a nutritional defficiency in dry eye. They call this fish oil. But there must be more than just fish oil. So becuase scientists are not going to figure this out for us, we have to. Keep in mind that dr's get kick backs on the medicine they prescribe so it is beneficial for them to keep prescribing rather then finding the nutrient that will help us all.

[Rory]

Rory,
If scientists/drs are not the brightest people, then who exactly is? Both professions actually do attract the brightest people. Do they have all the answers? Of course not. But any medical treatments that are available for dry eye at the moment have come from the work of scientists and drs. And only if at some point do they determine there is a link between mineral deficiency and mgd, will I be interested in the dosages.

In my experience ..Drs are not very intelligent. After all.. they were the science nerds from school..who chose subjects that required "non thinking" study. They are essentially sheep who memorise what they are told to memorise and prescribe what they are told to prescribe.

Very rare, certainly in the UK.. to meet a rational, open minded, articulate, intelligent Dr. They also generally have really poor emotional intelligence.

I have taken to asking my postman's opinion about my dry eyes before any Dr.

[dave25]

In my experience ..Drs are not very intelligent. After all.. they were the science nerds from school..who chose subjects that required "non thinking" study. They are essentially sheep who memorise what they are told to memorise and prescribe what they are told to prescribe.

Very rare, certainly in the UK.. to meet a rational, open minded, articulate, intelligent Dr. They also generally have really poor emotional intelligence.

I have taken to asking my postman's opinion about my dry eyes before any Dr.

I am somewhat familiar with what it takes to become a doctor and trust me you have to be bright in order to make it through medical school. Now, I have met some bad doctors in my search as well, but I have also met some very bright, very articulate, and very caring doctors as well.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I think we all share a common goal, to find a cure for our dry eyes.

We may disagree on certain things, but I always try to keep an open mind and if taking certain vitamins would improve my condition I would be the first in line to take them.

I have tried several different vitamins (not all of them yet) with little to no success. I just don't think finding a cure for dry eyes is as simple as adding some essential vitamins to your diet. But hey if it ends up being that easy, like I said, I will be the first one in line to buy them.

[Plat]

Rhad, seems like we can not send you private messages anymore. You had indicated that whoever wanted to know the secrets to your success to message you privately. Since we can not, can you please post what has helped your eyes water more here. Thanks Rhad.

[irish eyes]

I have taken to asking my postman's opinion about my dry eyes before any Dr.

I certainly wouldn't ask my postman for his opinion on my eyes but he makes sure I get my letters OK. (Bless him)

By the way, I've met plenty of doctors with high Social IQ.

[spmcc]

My question is: if dry eye/MGD is related to nutritional deficiencies (causing anemia of some type), then wouldn't dry eye/MGD be related to poverty where nutritional deficiency is more prevalent? In other words, wouldn't we observe higher numbers of those with dry eye/MGD in the poor?

[littlemermaid]

Diagnosis of the poor

http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/vad/en/index.html World Health Organisation nutrition programmes alleviating eye disease from vitamin A deficiency and uncontrolled diabetes (refs 'Vitamin A supplements: a guide to their use in the treatment and prevention of vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia', WHO, UNICEF, VACG Task Force). Enough problems getting keratitis sicca diagnosed in London, very little chance in less developed world I would think.

http://www.tearfilm.org/dewsreport/p...DEWS-noAds.pdf (142p, summarised http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1210417-overview) Report of the Dry Eye Workshop 2007 - see how many different causes of dry eye were identified, no way is nutrition a cure-all, maybe a help-some.

(p24) Vitamin A Deficiency: Vitamin A deficiency may cause dry eye (xerophthalmia) by two distinct mechanisms. Vitamin A is essential for the development of goblet cells in mucous membranes and the expression of glycocalyx mucins. These are deficient in xerophthalmia, leading to an unstable tear film characterized by early tear film break up. Vitamin A deficiency can cause lacrimal acinar damage, and, therefore, some patients with xerophthalmia may have a lacrimal, aqueous tear-deficient dry eye.

rhad may be chomping plenty of carrots but have malabsorption due to mineral deficiency. Very glad you are feeling better and thanks for sharing info. (NB vit A overdose = liver damage.)

I am definitely going to ask our postman what he thinks - he is very sensible!

[irish eyes]

[url]

I am definitely going to ask our postman what he thinks - he is very sensible!

(You are making me think I might have been too dismissive about my postman).


pdf Report of the Dry Eye Workshop 2007 - see how many different causes of dry eye were identified, no way is nutrition a cure-all, maybe a help-some
Very true

[odydnas]

In my experience ..Drs are not very intelligent. After all.. they were the science nerds from school..who chose subjects that required "non thinking" study. They are essentially sheep who memorise what they are told to memorise and prescribe what they are told to prescribe.

Very rare, certainly in the UK.. to meet a rational, open minded, articulate, intelligent Dr. They also generally have really poor emotional intelligence.

I have taken to asking my postman's opinion about my dry eyes before any Dr.

If Drs/scientists only memorize existing things and don't think much, then where do all these new ideas, research, and treatments come from?

It is very frustrating when Drs/scientists currently don't hold the answers to help us feel better, but that dismissive attitude isn't helpful either.

[littlemermaid]

Frustration and pain

Time out, Rory. What you need is some TLC; don't post in anger, man. At least we have ophthalmologists to insult, most of the world doesn't. I hate those words chronic dry eye as much as anyone - my kid is twelve. I love anyone who is making any effort at all to help us. Thank you all with deepest gratitude to the doctors and scientists who are working on this. They are so clever I can't believe we belong to the same species.

My postman says I have internet addiction (and need to clear the bushes off the front path) so I won't be around for a while. Bless you all.

[westsnoop]

Speculation: Could Manganese be the missing ingredient?

More plentiful in tears than blood serum, there is a theory tears are a mechanism to rid the body of excess manganese.

[Plat]

Can't find much about Manganese. There are some eye vitamins with Manganese - Vital Eyes Complete. But we must remember that the mineral we are searching for is probably one that related to the hormone that makes tears. Let us know if anyone has tried Manganese.

Vitamins & Minerals
The following are some of the essential nutrients for treating dry eyes:

Recommended Nutrients
Vitamin A: In parts of the world where vitamin A deficiency is widespread, severe dry eye syndrome is a leading cause of blindness. Vitamin A is needed for the health of all epithelial (surface) tissues; it is actually found in the tear film of healthy eyes, and is fundamental to the production of the mucous layer of the tears.
We recommend eye drops containing vitamin A because they protect the eyes from free radicals, such as toxins, irritants, allergens and inflammation. In addition, take a daily dose of 10,000 I.U. of vitamin A and 25,000 I.U. of beta-carotene (also called pro-vitamin A because it converts to vitamin a in the body).

Note: before beginning a regimen of vitamin A or beta-carotene, have your thyroid activity checked by your doctor. Hypothyroid patients - people with underactive thyroids - are always vitamin A deficient. They cannot convert beta-carotene to vitamin A, nor can they convert vitamin A to the form usable by the eyes. One way to check this yourself is to take your temperature under your arm when you wake up in the morning, but before you get out of bed. If it is regularly below 97.8 F degrees , you might have any underactive thyroid.


Vitamin B6: All of the B vitamins are important in treating dry eyes, but vitamin B6 aids in the proper absorption of magnesium. Magnesium helps the body produce a hormone called prostaglandin E-7, which is necessary for tear production.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is concentrated in the tear film to a higher level than that found in the blood.

Potassium: Probably the most important mineral for dry eye symptoms, potassium is usually very low in dry eye patients. This is usually linked to low intakes of folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin B6 along with high sugar consumption. You can take in at least 500 mg per day by increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables (one banana contains 400 mg).

Essential Fatty Acids: These are important for the production of both the oily, lipid and the watery aqueous layers of the tear film. After only ten days of taking essential fatty acids plus vitamins B6 and vitamin C, dry eye sufferers have seen an increase in tear production.

http://www.visionworksusa.com/dryeyes.htm

[sighthound]

Keep in mind that dr's get kick backs on the medicine they prescribe so it is beneficial for them to keep prescribing rather then finding the nutrient that will help us all.

I understand that, but every eye dr I have seen has also told me to take fish oil (which I do). So I don't believe they only will prescribe drugs when medical evidence suggests a certain nutritional supplement is helpful. It is not so much the drs, but the pharma industry that pushes for the drug versus nutritional solution. I take other supplements, but only those that I have read about on reliable medical/scientific websites. Taking high dosages of supplements, and combining them can result in dangerous reactions. And since we as patients, can't ourselves do clinical trials, lab tests, etc, we can really only come up with anecdotal evidence. That is fine for things like warm versus cold compresses, but I think caution should be taken with supplementation.