What type of eye vitamin is EyePromise EZ Tears?

EyePromise EZ Tears is a dry eye and contact lens comfort formula with anti-inflammatory ingredients to attack dry eye from the inside, offering fast relief with the highest-quality, dietary ingredients. Some of the many benefits of EyePromise EZ Tears are:

• Rapid relief in as little as 2 weeks
• Increased contact lens comfort
• Extended hours of comfortable contact lens wear
• Minimized eye drop use

For what type of patient is EZ Tears formulated?

Patients suffering from inflammation caused by dry eye discomfort are the most likely candidates for EyePromise EZ Tears. Inflammation of the eye may be the result of meibomian gland dysfunction, contact lens dryness, pre- and post-surgery dryness, medications (both over the counter and prescribed), systemic diseases and environmental irritants.

How often should I take EZ Tears?

EZ Tears is a nutritional dietary supplement designed to encourage compliance through a daily dose of only 2 soft gels to increase tear production and tear quality. EZ Tears should be taken before or during a meal, or as directed by an Eyecare Professional to help stimulate tear production, reduce the inflammatory processes that affect the ocular surface, and interrupt the inflammation cascade in the tear film.

What are omega-3 fatty acids?

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. We need them for our bodies to work normally. Because essential fatty acids (ALA, DHA, and EPA) are not made in the body or are inefficiently converted from ALA to EPA and DHA, we need to get them from our diet. Omega-3s have several health benefits and are thought to play an important role in reducing inflammation throughout the body - in blood vessels, joints, and elsewhere. There are several types of omega-3 fatty acids. Two crucial ones - EPA and DHA - are primarily found in cold water fatty fish.

Does omega-3 help reduce inflammation in the eye?

Yes, omega-3 acids may help alleviate the symptoms of dry eye by reducing inflammatory activity in the body, and by possibly altering the lipid profiles of the meibomian glands. Some components of omega-3 acids are thought to stimulate aqueous tear secretion.

Are all omega-3s the same?

No, not all omega-3s are the same. To get the most benefit from the omega-3 fish oils, the supplement you take must have a high percentage of DHA and EPA - these are the substances that are responsible for reducing inflammation. DHA is rich in the brain and retina where deficiency can result in decreased vision.

What does EPA/DHA mean and why is it important?

EPA/DHA Ratio – with DHA being a major component of the retina, it is reasonable to assume DHA is the most critical fatty acid. Fatty acids from fish are vital and lacking in the typical diet. EyePromise EZ Tears contains more than 1,000mg of EPA/DHA (590/440mg) per daily dose, and the level of DHA is significantly greater than most fish oils in the market. It is scientifically arguable that the amount of DHA is more important than the form of fish oil.

What is the source of omega-3s in EyePromise products? Is it high quality and safe?

EyePromise EZ Tears contains natural anti-inflammatory nutrients that favorably affect systemic and ocular surface inflammation. One of these and the most prevalent in the EZ Tears formulation is omega-3 fish oil. There are many considerations when evaluating omega-3s, including the following 6 key issues to consider related to fish oil (omega-3s) in a dry eye supplement:

• Bio-availability – Controversy and confusion has been created by suppliers and marketers regarding whether the rTG (re-esterified triglyceride) or EE (ethyl ester) form of EPA/DHA is more biologically available. There are literally dozens of rodent and human volunteer studies with varied conclusions. This isn't surprising given the many variables that affect bioavailability or bio-absorption of fish oil. Studies from the 1990s and recently from Scandinavia and Germany, suggest the rTG form may be slightly more bio-available in the first two weeks, however, this very slight difference must be weighed against multiple considerations, including the higher cost of rTG, elucidated herein.
• EPA/DHA Ratio – 590mg/440mg (see above)
• Concentration, Dose, Size and Number of Capsules – Instructing a patient to “take fish oil” without clarification or instruction around total omega-3 or EPA/DHA content may lead the patient to a retail shelf where they encounter a confusing array of products. Fish oil products typically found on the retail shelf contain low levels of EPA/DHA, and a low amount of DHA in particular. What appears to be a great “value” may not be a bargain. These products are usually 30% omega containing products; therefore, the patient must take 4 to 6 servings daily to receive the same EPA/DHA dose in two EZ Tears soft gels.
• Purity – The fish oil in EZ Tears is Golden Omega Fish Oil. Golden Omega's facility is strategically and uniquely located in Arica, the northern-most city in Chile, on the border with Peru. This is in the middle of the richest fishing ground for pelagic fishes in the world, in the South Pacific Ocean. This key advantage allows Golden Omega to have access to high quality raw material (crude fish oil) which is the starting point of their quality. They use 100% Wild Caught fish from these waters, bought directly from selected Friend of the Sea and Marin Trust certified fishing companies, without the use of intermediate traders. Besides the highest-quality starting materials and processes, a proprietary purification process and in-depth analysis ensure that any heavy metals and toxins are removed to meet or exceed all international quality and safety standards. The fish oil in EZ Tears conforms to GOED and IFOS standards and purity requirements of the CRN monograph.
• Stability – Stability usually refers to the resistance to oxidation and rancidity. Because of the highly polyunsaturated nature of omega-3s, the compounds must be handled carefully, keeping them oxygen starved. Once oxidation begins, quality has been adversely affected. Therefore, fish oil must be handled with precision from the moment of harvest. In addition to fishy odor and upset stomach, rancid fish oil is harmful and pro-inflammatory. The fish oil in EZ Tears is from a very high-quality source, handled very carefully, and an important antioxidant system is utilized to create a highly stable formula. Many fish oils use only vitamin E as an antioxidant. EZ Tears contains multiple antioxidants and therefore yields a very stable form of high-quality omega-3 oils.

How is EyePromise EZ Tears different than other omega-3 products?

EZ Tears is much more than an omega-3 supplement. It contains anti-inflammatory ingredients in addition to omega-3s and was designed from the ground up as a dry eye and contact lens comfort formula to address dry eye from the inside. The nine anti-inflammatory ingredients provide EPA/ DHA from fish oil, along with natural substances that reduce systemic and ocular surface inflammation, including:

• Omega-3 (1,100 mg per daily dose - 590 EPA/440 DHA) - essential fatty acid thought to play an important role in reducing inflammation throughout the body - blood vessels, joints, and elsewhere.
• Vitamin A, as retinyl palmitate (300mcg per daily dose) - a fat-soluble vitamin essential for corneal surface health, as well as mucosal, conjunctival, meibomian, and lacrimal gland health. It is needed by genes/cells that express mucin (a polysaccharide) of major importance in one of the three major tear layers.
• Vitamin D3 (50mcg per daily dose) - a fat-soluble vitamin that is generally deficient in the American diet. Numerous clinical studies have elucidated the health benefits of Vitamin D, and many are likely explained by its master effects on immunity and systemic inflammation.
• Vitamin E, d-alpha Tocopherol (40mg per daily dose) - fat-soluble vitamins and their related compounds are essential for reduction of systemic and ocular inflammation. These compounds are found in a healthy American diet and important in stabilizing omega-3 fatty acids.
• Evening Primrose Oil - contains gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) which has been shown to favorably affect dry eye symptoms, probably by inhibiting conversion of omega-6 fatty acids to pro-inflammatory molecules.
• Turmeric Extract - has several systemic and ocular anti-inflammatory mechanisms including COX-2 mediated conversion of omega-6 fatty acids to pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and inhibition of other pro-inflammatory signals on the ocular surface (interleukins MMP-9, MAPK, TNF-alpha, p 38, JNK and NF-Kappa B).
• Green Tea Extract - has both antioxidant and multi-modes of action on anti-inflammatory pathways in systemic and ocular tissues. An interesting observation is that EGCG and curcumin are natural inhibitors of MMP-9, a central mediator of ocular surface pro-inflammatory cytokines, a major contributor of dry eye.
• Mixed Tocotrienols/Mixed Tocopherols - play a significant role in reducing systemic inflammation.

Have any studies been conducted on the effectiveness of EyePromise EZ Tears?

Yes, EyePromise has conducted two separate patient studies using EZ Tears to determine product effectiveness in two areas: severe dry eye relief and contact lens comfort. A third study, the ONIT Trial - an FDA approved trial, has been completed and is being reviewed now for efficacy.

Does EZ Tears come with any product guarantee?

Yes, based on the positive results of the completed patient studies, EyePromise EZ Tears comes with an unconditional 30-day, money-back guarantee! Simply take two EZ Tears soft gels per day, and we guarantee dry eye relief in 30 days or your money back!

Is there iodine in EyePromise fish oil?

The fish oil utilized in EyePromise brands may contain trace amounts of iodine at minute levels generally undetectable in routine laboratory assays.

Why does the amount of EPA and DHA not equal the total amount of omega-3 fatty acids?

EPA and DHA are two specific types of omega-3s contained in fish oil. Every fish oil product also contains other omegas in addition to EPA and DHA.

Why does the amount of omega-3 fatty acids not equal the total amount of fish oil?

All fish oil contains both fish fat and omega-3 fatty acids. Most retail stores offer products that have 30% of their total amount of fish oil as omega-3 fatty acids. This means that the other 70% of this product is fish fat. EyePromise utilizes high-quality fish oil that has 70% of the total amount of fish oil as omega-3 fatty acids.

Is the form of fish oil that you utilize in the EyePromise EZ Tears supplement a re-esterified triglyceride fish oil?

Yes, it is the re-esterified triglyceride fish oil.

What is the source of vitamin E in EZ Tears?

Vitamin E is a form of natural source D-alpha tocopherol derived from edible vegetable oils blended with soybean oil.