It’s a little embarrassing, because people have a stereotype when it comes to eye redness. Bloodshot eyes are often associated with poor sleeping habits and late-night partying.

Clear, bright eyes are important when you want to look your best, whether it’s for a date or a business meeting. So when your eyes are bloodshot from lack of sleep, eye strain, allergies, or constant rubbing, it’s easy to grab a bottle of Visine or Clear Eyes to whiten them up.

But over-the-counter (OTC) solutions, might create more problems than they solve.

These kinds of eye drops work by constricting the blood vessels in your eyes. But they never work for very long. When the drops wear off, blood rushes back into your vessels, putting more pressure on your eyes. So, the more you use them, the more you need them.

Also, naphazoline, the active ingredient in some OTC solutions, can cause an irregular heart rate, high blood pressure, severe headache, and difficulty breathing. Plus, it may damage the blood vessels in the eyes.

The best thing to do for your eyes is stop using OTC drops altogether.

To keep your eyes naturally clear and bright:

• Limit soft drinks, coffee, and alcohol. A little of these drinks is ok but they are diuretics. Too much can pull fluid out of the body and leave your eyes feeling dry and tired.
• Drink plenty of water to provide much-needed moisture to your eyes. Clean, pure water hydrates your entire body – including your eyes. Splashing water on your eyes will give you immediate relief if you’re really feeling dry.
• Eat the right fats so your eyes work their best. Omega-3 fatty acids found in wild-caught salmon, tuna, herring, sardines, and mackerel – even eggs and olive oil – can help soothe your dry eyes.

Over the long-term, support your eye health by eating foods filled with carotenoids, like carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach, green leafy vegetables which are high in lutein, and bilberries, the fruit that Britain’s Royal Air Force used in World War II to keep their pilots’ vision strong.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, M.D.

1 American Society for Nutrition, “Long-Term Ingestion of High Flavanol Cocoa Provides Photoprotection against UV-Induced Erythema and Improves Skin Condition in Women,” Journal of Nutrition June 2006; 136:1565-1569

To learn more about Pure Radiance, Inc., call (888) 795-4005 or visit:

http://www.mypureradiance.com

Like any mother with a young child, there are times I don’t get enough sleep. In the morning, I wake up with dark circles under my eyes.

Although I don’t like the way they look, I don’t get too worried about them. And you shouldn’t either. Dark circles aren’t usually caused by a medical problem. It’s usually something simple. I take it as a sign that I’m not getting enough rest.

When you don’t sleep enough, it causes a chain reaction of stress in your body. It can affect your adrenal glands and the way you absorb vitamins. A simple solution is aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Give yourself a couple weeks to see improvement.

Straining your eyes can also cause dark circles. If you find yourself staring at a computer for the better part of the day, make sure you take a break every 10 minutes or so. Look away from the computer and focus on something far away. This will help to relax your eyes.

If these suggestions don’t help, you may have an allergy. Allergies are one of the most common causes of dark circles. Whether it’s indoor, outdoor, or food allergies, your best bet is to avoid whatever is causing the symptoms or treat it.

Many times, it’s a matter of removing as many possible allergens from your home as possible. For instance, you may be allergic to chemicals in cleaning supplies or air fresheners. Try using environmentally friendly products and toss out your plug-ins. Many people see a difference within a week.

One way to treat allergies is to increase your levels of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Eat a diet that includes fresh, raw fruits and vegetables to improve your symptoms and make dark circles disappear.

And don’t forget probiotics. I swear by them. You get some probiotics when you eat yogurt. But I recommend you take a supplement. Take 10 to 20 billion CFU’s. You can buy them at a store that carries vitamins. When you take probiotics, you stimulate your immune system so your body can resist an allergic response.

Here’s a simple treatment you can try. Wrap a bag of frozen peas in a soft cloth or chill a couple teaspoons and place them on your eyes. Or you can try a cooled, used teabag or cucumber slices.

Best Wishes for Health and Beauty,

Tara Smith, ARNP, NP-C

[Ed. Note: Tara Smith, ARNP NP-C, is a board-certified nurse practitioner for Dr. Sears’ Center for Health & Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, FL. Her medical concentration is on aesthetics, teaching, and family practice. Tara is conducting research trials into novel ways of naturally boosting HGH and working on a new book, on anti-aging for women.]