Eye Care - Products for the Eyes:

Skin is the biggest organ of the body. The epidermis is a superficial layer of the skin, which gets affected by the many factors. Thus it becomes necessary to take care about the skin.Skin care needs you to maintain it supple and juicy. If you think that beauty is only skin deep, you are sadly mistaken. Truly beautiful skin starts from deep within you, and has a great deal to do with diet, digestion and your hormone levels, your stress levels and the state of your nutritional health. The eye skin is the very delicate skin, that needs very caring.

Skin care products are designed to maintain healthy skin. Skin care products for the eyes include astringents, moisturizers, and sunscreens.

There are variety of eye-care products available. Each product contains one or more active and inactive ingredients. These includes:

• Artificial tears : Artificial tears are also called lubricants, which are the man-made, water-based solutions that are used to lubricate the eye and thicken tears. The ingredients in artificial tears that provide the lubrication include cellulose ethers , polyvinyl alcohol or PVA, povidone or PVP and retinol solutions.

• Ointments or Emollients: Ointments also are useful lubricants. These products are not water-based and contain lubricating ingredients similar to petroleum jelly. Examples of ointments include DuraTears Naturale, Lacri-Lube, and Refresh PM. Emollients usually are used twice a day.

• Eye washes: These are also known as ocular irrigants, which are used to cleanse or rinse debris from the eye. These products are balanced to the proper acidity and electrolyte concentration so as to be non-irritating to the eye. Washes are available as liquids, solutions or drops.

• Decongestants: The decongestants are used to shrink swollen blood vessels in the congested (red) eye, for example, in conjunctivitis. Phenylephrine is the most common decongestant for this purpose.

• Antihistamines: The antihistamines are combined with ocular decongestants for the treatment of congestion, particularly when caused by allergy. Antihistamines should not be used in patients at risk for developing angle-closure glaucoma.

Disorders of Eyes:

Some important eye disorders are as:

Blepharitis: It is generally caused by inflammation of the eyelid. It results in red, scaly, and thickened eyelids and typically some loss of the eyelashes. Blepharitis is initially treated by applying hot compresses to the affected eye, followed by an eyelid scrub. If the condition persists, you should see the doctor, who may prescribe antibiotics.

Lice: Lice in the eyelids cause symptoms and signs that are similar to those of blepharitis. Petrolatum or a non-medicated ointment is applied to the eyelid and suffocates the lice eggs.

Thermal damage: Thermal damage is a burn injury to eye itself. Exposure to the sun's UV radiation during outdoor activities is an example of minor ocular thermal damage. An eye lubricant can be applied to soothe the eye.

Dry eye: It is characterized by a white or mildly reddened eye combined with a sandy, gritty feeling. A different type of dry eye can occur when the flow of tears is reduced because of inflammation and destruction of the lacrimal glands (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). Although lubricants are effective for treating dry eye, a physician also should be consulted.