Probiotics for eyeballs?

A scratchy feeling, like there’s something in your eye. 

Stinging, or burning.

Redness and irritation.

Sensitivity to light. 

And vision that’s blurry, or hard to focus. 

When your eyes are dry, it’s not just a minor inconvenience.  

It can disrupt your entire day. Lead to stress and alter your mood. And often, it can also disrupt your sleep.

Which leads to fatigue… and even drier eyes and regular irritation.

Dry eyes are a growing issue in the U.S. As many as 1 in 5 of us deal with this issue every day. And in some parts of the world, 3 out of every 4 people are suffering. 

Besides constantly adding drops to your eyes, is there anything you can do?

Fortunately, there is. And many of these tips are easy to try, and can bring welcome relief quickly.

First, if you’re spending hours in front of your computer, or TV, or evenings scrolling on your phone, your eyes are crying out for a break. Staring at screens reduces our tendency to blink, which lowers natural tear production.

These natural tears keep your eyes moist and comfortable. Which is why if you’re prone to prolonged screen time, you should remember this: 20/20/20.

For every 20 minutes of screen time, look away from the screen for 20 seconds, and focus on something 20 feet away. Make a point to increase your blinking when you do this, and you’ll beat back both dry eyes and eye strain, for a dual dose of comfort. 

If you’re a contact lens wearer like I am, be vigilant about cleaning, and only wear them for part of the day. Or skip a day and switch to glasses. Contacts can trap irritants in your eyes, especially on windy days. 

For an added layer of protection, wear sunglasses to keep your eyes from drying out.

And be sure to switch your contacts out frequently, if you’re not wearing daily lenses.

Boosting your dietary intake of omega-3s is also good for tear production. Think fish and nuts, which are not only good for your eyes, but they’re also great for your heart and brain too! 

In addition, specialized nutrients and even probiotics have been shown to help support your eyes’ natural tear production. 

An Italian study showed significant improvement in dry eye symptoms with probiotics, and a comprehensive eye formula that adds in vitamin D and a unique fruit called maqui berry can really make a difference (you get all this in my Vital Vision Pro).  

And finally, let me ask you… when’s the last time you had your furnace filter changed? 

If you find your eyes start to bother you late in the day, it might not be the screen time. It could be the air quality inside your home. Invest in decent filters and change them regularly.

Dry eyes are a growing problem. And if you’re feeling it, it can be disruptive, uncomfortable and frustrating. 

But it can be fixed, without a lot of work or trips to the eye doctor. Give these tips a try and let me know if they work for you.