I have a question about bilberry. It is supposed to help with the health of your eyes. My eyes, since about October have been so DRY. I went to the eye doctor and she said they are healthy and my prescription hadn't changed any. She gave me some drops to use. This problem is mostly at night. Sometimes whe I wake up they feel so dry, it is like they are stuck together. I have no drainage or sign of infection. They are not red, and I am still producing tears, like if I cut up an onion they get very watery. Any advice??????

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 04, 2002

Answers

My understanding is that bilberry strengthens the blood vessels in your eyes, so I'm not sure how useful it would be for dry eyes. I'm currently researching herbal treatments for eye conditions for a friend, I'll let you know what I find out.

-- Sherri C in Central Indiana (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), February 04, 2002.

People who spend a lot of time reading or at the computer tend to blink less than normal as they are concentrating which causes eye fatigue or so the eye droctor told me when I had the same problem.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), February 04, 2002.

That could be true Mitch, but I have always read a lot and it just started last fall. Also it is worse at night when I am sleeping and wake up.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 04, 2002.

Melissa, dry eyes are also a symptom of allergies as well, do you have any other allergy type symtoms? Do you have and use a woodburning stove? Are the eye symptoms worse when it is colder, or when you use the woodburner more?

Bilberry will help eye strain symptoms, but not help with the dryness part any, you might try taking additional Ester C with plenty of bioflavnoids in it, Walmart carries a good Ester C with the bio's in it for fairly cheap.

My guess would be you are having allergic symtoms to something different in your diet or home since the problem started in October, think back and see if you can find any food, cleaning product, or other home related things that are different since then. Even using a different vehicle, are you using a different laundry product, cleaning product at home? New towels or sheets? You got to cover everything :-)

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), February 04, 2002.

Well we do use a woodburner, but we always have, got a new van in July, haven't used any new cleaning products or any new linens. No new foods that I can think of. I have eliminated some though! I don't think I have any other signs of allergies. I did start this forum in October,and have been spending more time on the computer than before, so maybe that is it.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 04, 2002.

Just a quick comment about allergies: most folks think that because they have "always" taken a certain medicine, or food or been around certain plants or wood stoves, etc. that any of those things couldn't possibly be the source of allergy symptoms. This is false. The body must "see" a substance at least once to become allergic to it. Often, as we age (groan), things we have taken for years and years become allergens to our system. Never in my entire life did I have allergies to anything except lobster until I turned 42, then I became severly allergic to penicillin, mold, newspaper ink, many, many perfumes, as well as tomatoes and milk! Dry eyes are indeed a common allergy symptom, although also a symptom of thyroid disease, as well as numerous collagen disorders such as Lupus, it is much more commonly associated with allergies. I have no clue regarding home remedies for dry eyes..sorry..in my practice, assuming I did not suspect anything else, I just suggested using a mild saline solution every night at bedtime.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), February 04, 2002.

Thanks Lesley. If I had allergies what other symptoms might I have??? I had heard that they can come on suddenly.

I did have a reaction to some soap once, but I had raised hives and it itched like crazy. Got a shot and some medication and it went away. This was about 5 years ago.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 04, 2002.

Yep, I bet that is it Melissa, the increased computer time! My good friend Dianne says the computer time bothers her eyes as well, she has to work at one all day and it can really be a bother to her eyes. The additional dry heat of the woodstove also coinsides with the eye dryness too, are you sure you are drinking enough plain water, dry eyes are also a first sign of slight dehydration.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), February 05, 2002.

Probably a combination of computer, and woodstove. Since I have started eating healthier I am drinking 2- 1 liter bottles of water daily. Plus I usually drink an 8 ounce glass of decaf tea or juice with meals.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 05, 2002.