Nov 17, 2020
Dry Eye Syndrome plagues so many women as they get older. Our eyes naturally deteriorate, but there are some amazing ways that you can boost your eye health. I’m joined by Dr. Travis Zigler and Dr. Jenna Zigler, optometrists who specialize in dry eyes, to talk about what we can do right away to improve our eye health.
Key Takeaways
Your 3 Day Challenge to Reduce your Blue Light Exposure:
- Turn off or put your phones to airplane mode when the sun goes down
- Do something for yourself: Read a physical book, do yoga, or meditation
- Take the entire hour before sleep to just wind down.
About Dr. Travis Zigler and Dr. Jenna Zigler
Dr. Travis Zigler graduated in 2010 from The Ohio State University College of Optometry with Magna Cum Laude honors. He is the founder of Eye Love whose mission is to heal 1,000,000 dry eye sufferers naturally.
Dr. Travis and his wife, Dr. Jenna Zigler, use the profits from Eye Love to fund free and low-cost clinics in Jamaica and in the US. They also started a charity called the Eye Love Cares Foundation which provides exams, glasses, and sunglasses for those in need, free education, and scholarships for students that align with their mission.
Previously, Dr. Travis and Dr. Jenna owned two optometry practices, which they sold in 2017 to focus on their online efforts. Dr. Travis enjoys reading to his son, Jude, traveling to Jamaica, and playing the ukulele while he drinks his morning coffee.
In the future, the Foundation will fund permanent free and low-cost clinics in both the US and Jamaica, and it is their goal to provide optometry scholarships for students who have an interest in eye care mission work.
Why We Get Dry Eyes
As we age, our eye health naturally decreases and dry eyes become more common. This is much for the same reasons that women find their vaginas drier after menopause. I’m so glad to welcome Dr. Travis and Dr. Jenna Zigler onto The Girlfriend Doctor, who are both huge advocates of the Keto-Green Diet!
Following a diet like Keto-Green is one of the first things you can do to improve the dryness of your eyes. This is just one of the steps that Jenna shares about how you can care for your eyes. Her other initial recommendations surround the care of your eyelids, as these have a very direct impact on your overall eye health.
Travis and Jenna talk about whether you should wear contact lenses or not. They say that single-use contacts are better and also give insight into how best to care for your eyes while wearing them.
We also talk about makeup. Sadly, not many brands of makeup are truly eye-safe. Travis explains why you should replace your makeup regularly, what the problem with permanent makeup is, and why he’s planning a range of single-use makeup brushes.
The Problem with Blue Light
It’s not just what you use on and around your eyes that can impact their health and dryness. Travis and Jenna talk about other skin conditions, such as rosacea, that relate to your eye health and what you can do to treat both.
By now, you’re likely well aware of how bad blue light is for not just our eye health, but our circadian rhythm as well. Jenna and Travis absolutely recommend using blue light blocking glasses whenever you’re on the computer. But in addition to this, they encourage you to get direct sunlight without the use of sunglasses in the early morning and late afternoon light.
Jenna and Travis conclude this insightful discussion with their three best tips for improving your eye dryness. Included in this, Jenna explains how you can give yourself a gentle eyelid massage to help improve the moisture in your eyes. Travis ends by giving us a 3-day challenge to reduce your exposure to blue light in the hour before you sleep.
Do you suffer from dry eyes? Will you be participating in Travis’s challenge? As always, you can ask me anything and let me hear your thoughts in the comments on the episode page. If you have questions, email team@drannacabeca.com.
In This Episode
- Why a change in diet can help with your dry eyes [7:45]
- How to care for your eyelids [9:00]
- How to wear contact lenses safely to reduce symptoms of dry eyes [13:30]
- What the problem with makeup is [15:30]
- What other skin conditions are related to your eye health [26:15]
- Why we should limit our use of sunglasses [30:00]
- How to give yourself a gentle eyelid massage [36:00]
- Key tips for caring for your eye health and preventing dry eyes [40:40]
Quotes
“We have an overgrowth of bacteria on our eyelids. If that overgrowth becomes too much it produces a toxic waste product. That causes inflammation, redness, and irritation.” [10:44]
“The sun’s also good for blue light. Blue light regulates our sleep cycle. When the sun comes up, it’s the most abundant source of blue light and it’s more than your screens could ever get close to. When the sun goes down at night, blue light goes away. Blue light going away tells our body to start producing melatonin.” [31:33]
“Once the sun goes down, you should eliminate all blue light from your life. Which means putting down your phones, putting down your computers, turning off your tv because that’s going to keep you from getting in a deep sleep. Deep sleep is what you need to rest your mind and body.” [32:12]
“Take the TV out of your bedroom because the bedroom should be for sleep and sex only.” [33:13]
“Get your eyelid hygiene regimen down. The simplest way is adding Hypochlorous Acid to the end of your daily routine.” [41:04]
Resources Mentioned
Get Your Exclusive Offer! Use Code: CABECA at Checkout!
Get a Copy of the Dry Eye Treatment eBook for Free
Listen to The Dry Eye Show with Optometrist Dr. Travis Podcast
Join the Dry Eye Syndrome Support Community on Facebook
Rethink Your Dry Eye Treatment Blog
Follow Dr. Travis Zigler on Facebook | YouTube
Join the KetoGreen Community on Facebook
Buy Keto-Green 16