[Kim Jaeho's Life Story]<240> Happiness That Brings Tears Easily

People shed tears when their joy or sorrow is much greater than usual, and normally, they rarely cry, so one might wonder when they last shed tears. An old saying goes that a man cries three times in his life: at birth and when his parents pass away. Throughout our lives, shedding tears is not a frequent occurrence.

However, how many people know that tears play a very important role in the health of our eyes? Around us, there are quite a few people suffering from dry eye syndrome, commonly known as dry eyes, due to insufficient tear production. They understand well the importance of tears. Although the number of patients decreased somewhat during the COVID-19 pandemic, about 2.5 million people receive treatment annually for dry eye syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome is an uncomfortable condition that occurs when tears fail to function properly for some reason. Symptoms include eye stinging, irritation, a foreign body sensation like sand rolling in the eye, burning sensation, blurred vision, itching, glare, and various discomforts. Some experience a degree of vision loss, eye fatigue, or redness.

The best doctor in our body has designed our eyes to be constantly covered with tears to protect eye health. As long as our eyes are open, we blink almost unconsciously about 15 to 20 times per minute to keep them moist. Each blink spreads a tear film over the eye surface, maintaining it for a short time, and these tears play an important role in supporting eye function.

Tears consist of three layers: the lipid layer, the aqueous layer, and the mucin layer. The innermost mucin layer helps the middle aqueous layer spread evenly, while the outermost lipid layer prevents evaporation of the aqueous layer. The aqueous layer makes up most of the tear film and contains proteins and various substances that perform the main functions of tears.

The aqueous layer keeps the eyes moist, removes foreign substances, and since the eye surface lacks blood vessels, it supplies oxygen and nutrients to surface cells through tears, protecting the eyes from external irritants. It also washes away foreign particles, and contains lysozyme, a substance that prevents microbial invasion and infection. Components that heal damage on the eye surface help repair injuries, smooth the eye surface, and ensure light refracts correctly so we can see clearly.

Causes of dry eye syndrome include insufficient tear production and excessive tear evaporation. Causes of reduced tear production include aging, allergic eye diseases, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, thyroid disorders, various medications including antihistamines, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, antihypertensives, Parkinson’s disease treatments, and vitamin A deficiency.

Causes of excessive tear evaporation include dysfunction of the meibomian glands?oil glands located at the eyelid margins near the eyelashes?reduced blinking, and activities requiring concentration such as reading, driving, or computer work. Other causes include eyelid turning outward or inward, eye allergies, preservatives in eye drops, wind, smoke, dry air, and vitamin A deficiency.

Common treatments for dry eye syndrome include supplying artificial tears. Other methods involve blocking the tear drainage ducts at the eye corners, using medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs that increase tear production and reduce the risk of corneal damage, avoiding dusty workplaces, using humidifiers to moisten dry environments, and improving habits by blinking frequently or taking breaks during prolonged reading, driving, or computer use.

As examined above, rather than relying on treatments that do not heal well and cause discomfort due to insufficient tear production, it is better to maintain eye health by ensuring tears are produced adequately. To do this, it is advisable to practice a Newstart lifestyle (refer to Life Story Part 6) that allows the body’s best doctor to perform its role well by changing harmful habits that damage genes or interfere with gene activation.

Among the eight components of Newstart, the first is a life diet that involves eating a variety of plant-based foods including fruits, vegetables, and grains in their whole form without selective eating of specific foods. Along with this, it is important to reduce intake of sugar?which causes many problems when consumed excessively?processed or refined bad carbohydrates, saturated fats, trans fats, salt, and alcohol.

Additionally, practicing the remaining Newstart components?exercise, water, sunlight, temperance, air, rest, trust, and love?is also important.

Kim Jae-ho, Independent Researcher

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.