Dry Eye: What Everyone Should Know (NAPSA)—No one wants to neglect the health of their eyes such that they feel discomfort, damage their vision and see redness that was never there before. However, dry eye, a medical condition that has been shown to affect an esti- mated 20 million Americans, can be a culprit that often goes underrecognized and under-diagnosed. To help people better recognize the symptomsof dry eye and part- ner with their eye doctor to best manage the condition, Robert vag Latkany, M.D., oph- Se thalmologist and Weof Eye @founder and director the Dry @ Clinic in New York a, City has authored, “The Dry Eye Rem- (P) edy.” This is the first Dr. Robert Latkany book to give dry eye sufferers simple and practical ways to manage their condition. “As a dry eye sufferer, I can empathize with the symptoms experienced by other dry eye sufferers. When the eyes are no longer moist, a person typically experiences itching and irritation, blurred vision, light sensitivity and even excessive tear- ing,” said Dr. Latkany. “The negative impact these symptoms may have on patients’ daily activities prompted meto specialize exclusively in dry eye and to write this book.” Dry eye is often caused by hormonal changes due to aging and menopause, and can be aggra- vated by environmental conditions or contact lens use. Additionally, laser or cosmetic eye surgery can increase the risk of dry eye along with certain medical conditions and common medications including antihistamines, antidepressants, oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. To alleviate dry eye symptoms many people find relief with overthe-counter artificial tears. Since there are a wide range of products on the market, choosing an eye drop can be a confusing task. There are clear solutions, gels and ointments that all promise to coat In certain patients RESTASIS (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% helps increase the eyes’ natural ability to produce tears, which may be reduced by inflammation due to chronic dry eye. Restasis did not increase tear production in patients using topical steroids or tear duct plugs. RESsTASIS ophthalmic emulsion should not be used by patients with active eye infections and has not been studied in patients with a history of herpes viral infections of the eye. The most commonside effect is a temporary burning sensation. Additional information on and below the surface of the eye. Restasis along with full product information can be found on www.RESTASIS.com. Lifestyle and nutrition can also play an important role in eye health. Many people find that getting enough rest, hydrating properly and adding omega-3 fatty acids to a diet can help alleviate dry eye is more than a discomfort experiences dry eye symptoms basis should see an eye doctor determine the severity of the condition and evaluate the cause of the disease. For more information about dry eye, you can find “The Dry Eye Remedy” in stores and online outlets where books are sold. Additional information on dry eye can also be found at and soothe the eye. However, OpTIVE™ Lubricant Eye Drops is an artificial tear that works in two ways to provide long-lasting relief of dry eye symptoms by lubricating and hydrating both on “It is important to know that and can develop into a deeper problem if left untreated,” said Dr. Latkany. “For this reason, anyone whois using over-thecounter eye drops on a regular who may recommend an additional therapy, such as RESTASIS, the only prescription eye drop approved by the FDA to increase tear production.” dry eye symptoms. Anyone who should see an eye doctor who will www.dryeye.com.
