For the more than 8 million people in the United States suffering from dry eye syndrome, emerging research from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Schepens Eye Research Institute suggests that changing dietary habits may help play a key role in prevention.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: I'm writing to find out if there is a better way to treat blepharitis. My ophthalmologist says to soak the eyelids with warm water and then to rub away the crusts with a washcloth. This does not work well for me.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: I have cataracts and am worried about the possibility of developing normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). During a dilated pupil exam, can an ophthalmologist adequately visualize the optic nerve through a clouded lens?

Dear Dr. SerVaas: Might stem cell therapy help produce new nerve fibers for an optic nerve that has been damaged by glaucoma?

Dear Dr. SerVaas: Is there anything on the horizon that one can do to prevent a second hemi-central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)? Once resolved, what is the risk of the same thing happening again and how soon? I am also wondering whether my loss of depth perception will improve over time.

It seems strange that tearing eyes need eye drops, but they do. Regular use of lubricating eye drops of the proper composition can help ease eye discomfort and prevent unsightly redness of the eyelid margins in many cases.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: I have read that UV protection in glasses is not directly related to the lens tint. If this is the case, can indoor reading glasses be treated for UV protection and used in the sun?

Dear Dr. SerVaas: I have a problem for which I can find no help. I woke up one morning three years ago with dizziness and have been dizzy since that moment. No one can suggest a cause.