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Coconut Oil: The Top Natural Eye Lubricant

Eye Doctor in Holly Hill

Eye Doctor in Holly Hill

Have you ever dealt with dry, itchy eyes? They may sting, feel gritty or overly sensitive. This is a common condition that affects as many as one in three people. Now, what if I told you that using coconut oil for eyes could ease discomfort naturally?

Also known as keratitis sicca or xerophthalmia, dry eyes can result when tear fluid is produced too slowly or evaporates too quickly. While it’s common to ease discomfort the obvious way — by adding more fluid to the eyes in the form of eye drops — it’s important to investigate what’s behind this seemingly simple, yet potentially complex problem.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes are more common in older people, but the problem can occur at any age. There are many factors that contribute to temporary or chronic dry eyes. For example, a number of medications may cause eye discomfort as a side effect:

  • Diuretics
  • ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors
  • Antihistamines
  • Decongestants
  • Sleeping pills
  • Birth control pills
  • Antidepressants
  • Acne medications with isotretinoin
  • Morphine and other opiates

Dry eyes can also be tied to medical conditions which affect the eyes and tear ducts. Some of these illnesses include shingles, Bell’s palsy, HIV, diabetes, arthritis and lupus. Skin conditions such as rosacea can also result in inflammation along the eyelids or clogged glands, interfering with healthy tear production.

Other causes of dry eye

Dry eyes may also be caused by Lasik surgery, a surgical procedure that uses a laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism. A study conducted by the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Michigan concluded that post-Lasik dry eye is extremely common. It affects approximately 20 to 40 percent of patients and can be a significant problem for patients and their eye-care providers. And with about one million procedures completed annually, that’s a lot of people suffering from dry eye syndrome.

Another little-known culprit behind dry eyes is a dangerous nutritional deficiency. Those lacking vitamin A can easily develop dry eyes. Other nutritional deficiencies can also hinder eye health. 

Menopause with its associated hormonal changes is also commonly linked with dry eye syndrome. In fact, research published in JAMA Ophthalmology reports that dry eyes affect 60 percent of menopausal women. Additionally, women are almost three times more likely than men to have the condition. While most cases are seen after menopause, some women with premature ovarian failure may also develop a higher risk of dry eye.

But, for most people, dry eyes are usually the result of too much time spent in front of the computer, television or even outdoors in the wind and sun.

Coconut Oil for Eyes

Eye Doctor in Holly HillI have had dry eyes for as long as I can remember. This may be partly due to the fact that I work online — spending a lot of time in front of a computer tends to dry out anyone’s eyes. I also think that there is a hereditary component to my dry eyes, as my father also has this condition. Add contacts to the mix and my eyes often feel uncomfortable by the end of the day.

When my dry eyes become unbearable, I generally reach for some kind of ocular lubricant (a solution specially formulated to moisten the eyes) found in most drugstores. However, after some research on my favorite natural solution, I found, even to my surprise, that I could use coconut oil in my tired and sore eyes. 

Normal Eye Function

Under normal circumstances, our eyes produce tears on a constant basis. Tears come out of tiny ducts and glands in the corners of the eyes and along the eyelids. The fluid is made up of three layers: oil, salt water and mucus. These form a film that assists vision and keeps eyes clear and comfortable in the time between blinking.

When the eyes become too dry, they can get red, painful and sensitive to light. Even eyesight may begin to suffer as a consequence of a lack of moisture.

What my research uncovered

Like all things, I like to do my research before trying anything new, even with my tried-and-trusted coconut oil. As expected, I uncovered quite a bit of anecdotal evidence regarding the effectiveness of using coconut oil for eyes, as well as one recent pilot study published in the Journal Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

In this study, three rewetting substances were compared: virgin coconut oil, Tears Naturale II and a saline solution (as a control). The purpose of the study was to explore the efficacy of virgin coconut oil as an ocular rewetting agent on rabbit eyes.

Researchers divided nine rabbits into groups and assigned each group with one of the three different eye drops. For the purpose of the study, the contents of each bottle were concealed to researchers. Drops were instilled topically in the tested eye — three times daily, for two weeks — with a follow-up after the 14th day.

The study demonstrated that using coconut oil for eyes was successful in reducing dry eyes. Study leaders noted that the oil did not cause any harmful effects on the rabbit’s eyes and that it might be useful for humans with dry eyes. In fact, research suggests that virgin coconut oil even works in the same way that commercial eye drops and saline solutions do. That’s not surprising since coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory properties are similar to natural tears.

This information, combined with the anecdotal reports I found, was enough to convince me to try some organic coconut oil for my dry eyes. After all, I know the reasons why coconut oil is so amazing, and it really made sense to me that it could help dry and tired eyes.

What I know about coconut oil

When people ask me why coconut oil is so amazing, I generally refer to what I have termed the eleven A’s — it helps me to remember all of the amazing properties of this natural wonder. Many of these properties can help to keep your eyes well lubricated and healthy.

  • Antibacterial — Stops bacteria that cause gum disease, throat infections, urinary tract infections and ulcers in their tracks.
  • Anticarcinogenic — Keeps dangerous cancer cells from spreading, while boosting immunity.
  • Antifungal — Destroys infection-promoting fungus and yeast.
  • Anti-inflammatory — Suppresses inflammation and repairs tissue.
  • Antimicrobial — Deactivates harmful microbes and fights infection.
  • Antioxidant — Protects from free radical damage.
  • Antiretroviral — Destroys HIV and HTLV-1.
  • Antiparasitic — Rids the body of lice, tapeworms and other parasites.
  • Antiprotozoal — Kills protozoal infection in the gut.
  • Antiviral — Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, AIDS, hepatitis and more.
  • Absorption — Very easy to digest and makes nutrients readily available.

A word about lauric and capric acid

Coconut oil is loaded with a very powerful antimicrobial fatty acid called lauric acid, also found in breast milk. In the body, lauric acid is converted to monolaurin, which is a potent antiviral, antibacterial and antiprotozoal substance.

Coconut oil also contains another fatty acid: capric acid. Capric acid is present in very small amounts in goat’s milk and cow’s milk, but is abundant in tropical oils, including coconut oil and palm kernel oil.

It is a medium-chain fatty acid that has antimicrobial and antiviral properties. In the body, capric acid is converted to monocaprin, a form that can readily fight viruses, bacteria and the yeast Candida albicans.

How I use coconut oil

In order to liquefy the coconut oil, I ran some hot water from the tap and put it in a small bowl. In an even smaller bowl,added about a teaspoon of coconut oil. I placed the smaller bowl in the larger bowl until the oil liquefied. Whatever you do, don’t use a microwave to melt your coconut oil. Microwaves change the molecular structure of the oil and kills the lauric acid that makes coconut oil so valuable.

Once the oil was liquefied, I let it cool and used a small glass dropper to withdraw some from the bowl. I tipped my head back and put a few drops in each eye. For a couple of minutes, my eyes were cloudy, but soon they cleared right up.

I did this twice a day, morning and evening, for a week and found there was a substantial decrease in dryness. I seemed to be producing more natural tears and my eyes did not feel nearly as tired by the end of the day.

In addition to dropping the coconut oil into my eyes, I also put a little around my eyes at night. This helped to soften and moisturize the skin around my eyes.

I am happy to report that I am now putting the drops in my eyes about three times a week and they seem to be doing the trick. No more over-the-counter lubricating drops for me… coconut oil wins again!

Consult an eye doctor before you try anything

To be safe it’s a very good practice to talk to an eye doctor before you put anything in your eyes. If you live anywhere in the Daytona Beach Area and are looking for an eye doctor in Holly Hill or surrounding area check out the Precision Eye Institute with multiple offices in the Daytona Beach Area.

This article has been re-written from a online post from Susan Patterson and appeared on the following website –  https://www.thealternativedaily.com

 

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