Our bodies undergo skin, muscle, and hormonal changes as we age that can contribute to a variety of ocular conditions including dry eye, blepharitis, and trichiasis.
Dry Eye Disease
Risks from:
- Contact Lens Use
- Post-Surgery
- High Screen Time
- Aircon and/or Dry Environments
- Chemical, Allergen Exposures, Makeup
- Age-related or other Hormonal and Gland Dysfunctions
The Ageing Lens
We have a highly elastic lens composed of crystallin proteins behind the iris of our eye. When functioning normally, changes in lens shape and thickness from action of the ciliary body, a circular muscle which also holds it in place, allow us to focus on near or distant objects.
The several types of crystallin proteins within maintain transparency, refractive power and flexibility, and filter higher bandwidths of light in the ultraviolet (UV) range. UV filtering prevents these biotoxic bandwidths from reaching the retina and damaging the delicate cells at the back of the eye.
Over time, ageing of lens epithelial cells at the front of the lens causes downstream effects, such as changes to the crystallin proteins. Studies show that this can be exacerbated by excess solar ionising radiation. The alteration of crystallin properties and function are behind the loss of elasticity and transparency in ageing lenses and the resultant development of cataracts.
