This is regulated by the plant secondary metabolite, bioflavonoids. This property makes it useful in the treatment of irritations in the eye which could be damaging. It is essential to get proper treatment for dry eyes to stop it from developing further and to reduce the symptoms. Reduced tear production and meibomian gland disease can increase the bacteria present in the eye, contributing to the tear film instability and eye surface damage. Using Optimel Manuka Honey eye drops 3 times a day can significantly improve the situation within a month. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Honey’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, combined with its soothing abilities, make it a surprisingly effective treatment for several eye conditions.For more severe cases of dry eyes, Optimel Forte eye gel would be a better option since it is a more concentrated formula. Patients with meibomian gland dysfunction can also benefit more with the eye gel since it is directly applied to the eyelids. Al-Waili NS. Investigating the antimicrobial activity of natural honey and its effects on the pathogenic bacterial infections of surgical wounds and conjunctiva; Journal of Medicinal Food 2004;7;2: 210–222. Bowman RW, Dougherty JM, McCulley JP. Chronic blepharitis and dry eyes. International Ophthalmology Clinics 1987;27:27–35. You’ll see an MGO rating on most Manuka products and this is simply telling you the level of methylglyoxal in honey and how strong its antibacterial properties are. The Manuka honey Holland and Barrett sells ranges from MGO 40to MGO 1000– so you can decide on what strength best suits your needs. While the conventional treatment of eye hygiene and lubricants also significantly improved symptoms, the honey products improved the condition more and had an antibacterial effect, lowering Staphylococcus epidermis counts.

Symptoms of chronic dry eye occur because of corneal inflammation and irritation. Symptoms can include a gritty sensation, feeling like something is in your eye or excessive watering/tearing. Always consult your eye care provider before starting any treatment to ensure that you’re using the appropriate medication for your condition. She said it would be good to be able to follow users of the honey treatment over a longer time, for example five to 10 years, to see if the therapy affects progression of their dry eye disease, if patients continue to use less lubricants and if they continue with or abandon the combined treatment. The Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) was measured in each patient at the start of the trial and at a follow up appointment three weeks later. Manuka honey has antibacterial agents developed from Leptospermum sp. to fundamentally assist with creating a low pH microenvironment that supports healing and prevents further damage to the ocular surface. The honey products lowers the Staphylococcus epidermis bacteria counts on the eye (which form colony forming units - CFUs), which is particularly overgrown in cases of tear deficiency and meibomian gland disease. Reduction of CFUs also reduces the susceptibility of the dry eye patient to secondary bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis. It does this by reducing the production of certain bacterial lipases that are thought to hydrolyse meibomian gland lipids.

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Reduction of CFUs reduces the potential susceptibility of the dry eye patient to bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis. The reduction in CFUs may also assist in improving the clinical symptoms of dry eye disease by reducing the production of certain bacterial lipases that are thought to hydrolyse meibomian gland lipids. Those who received Optimel drops had a significant difference in SPEED score. The Optimel group also demonstrated improvements in lid margin redness, conjunctival redness, corneal surface stain, and meibum quality and expressibility. Optimel Antibacterial Manuka Eye Drops assist the surface health of the eye by creating a micro-environment that supports healing and prevents further damage. When applied to the surface of the eye, Optimel Antibacterial Manuka Eye Drops provide an environment that through low pH, acts on bacteria that may potentially colonize the traumatised surface.