When it comes to our eyes, one of the first issues we notice is if they’re dry. Whether it’s caused from environmental factors like wind or air conditioning or from an eye health issue like Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), dry, irritated eyes can make anyone uncomfortable. While this is a common issue, few people know that this dryness and irritation is dependent on the health and balance of your tear film.

What Is the Tear Film?

Your tear film consists of the layers of lubrication that cover your eyes to maintain comfort and ocular surface health. The term “ocular surface” refers to the front part of your eyes that is visible to others. The tear film is made up of 3 layers:

• Aqueous layer: the water layer that keeps the eye moisturized
• Mucin layer: mucous layer that keeps the tear film on the eye
• Lipid layer: the fat layer that keeps the tear film from evaporating

These layers work in harmony to create the film that coats your eyes and greases the ocular surface. If any of these layers are defective, it can cause that dry, red, irritated, and/or burning feeling many of us experience.

The Blink Factor

Beyond the tear film itself, blinking is an incredibly important piece of the ocular surface puzzle. The act of blinking actually helps distribute that tear film across your eye, making sure that each area is receiving the lubrication it needs.

Why Does Tear Film Matter?

Your tear film is tied to several important functions for your eyes. As mentioned, the tear film lubricates your eyes and keeps them moisturized and comfortable. However, this lubrication does more than create comfort. The ocular surface is a delicate area, and the tear film acts as a protective barrier between the elements and your eye.

When your tear film isn’t functioning properly, you can experience that discomfort we’ve been referring to, but you may also experience burning, irritation, blurred vision, or even excessive watering. Something you may not notice but can be detrimental is corneal surface scratches. This means that your eyes are so dry that when you blink, your eyelid actually scratches the surface of your eye. This damage can be permanent and cause a number of other issues down the road.

How to Improve Tear Film

Unlike other visual functions, glasses cannot help with tear film functionality. However, one common solution people reach for is eye drops. Eye drops can provide that fast relief we’re all looking for, but it’s not a great long-term solution. Because eye drops provide that immediate lubrication, they can actually destroy your eyes’ natural ability to lubricate themselves. Additionally, the chemicals used to make eye drops are not intended for long-term use, and some even have warnings on how many times you should use them in a day.

Nutritional Support

Some science has shown that improving nutrition can help improve your tear film. Specifically, high-quality fish oil with a high concentration of Omega-3s is a great place to start. Omega-3s work within your eyes to help promote a healthy ocular surface from the inside out. Other soothing ingredients that can help with this endeavor include turmeric and green tea. However, eating all these nutrients daily in the amounts you need to make a difference simply isn’t sustainable.

Supplementation

While eating these nutrients every day can seem almost impossible, taking them in a one-a-day dose becomes much more achievable. A daily eye vitamin can be a great solution for providing the nutritional support your tear film needs to be balanced and healthy. Specifically, a well-rounded formulation that includes high-quality Omega-3s, turmeric root extract, green tea leaf extract, and 5 other soothing ingredients helps you build a substantial foundation for a healthy ocular surface.

EyePromise® EZ Tears™ meets these requirements and has been proven to help promote a healthy and balanced tear film. Clinical research supports the formulation for ocular surface health which proved that within 4 weeks, EZ Tears improved:

• Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) – a subjective test filled out by patients detailing their symptoms of occasional dry eye
• Tear break-up time (TBUT) – the time it takes for your eye’s surface to start to dry out
• Conjunctival and corneal staining – this is a test optometrists use to look for damage on the surface of your eyes
• Tear meniscus height – a measurement to determine tear volume

Your tear film is an important component of overall eye health, and EyePromise EZ Tears is a natural solution to support and improve the balance of that protective barrier. Additionally, EZ Tears is backed by a 30-day, money-back guarantee, meaning that if you’re not satisfied after 30 days for any reason, you get your money back. It’s a risk-free trial to find lasting relief for symptoms of an unhealthy tear film.