ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition in which your body doesn’t produce enough tears or the tears don’t lubricate your eyes well enough. It affects roughly 16 million Americans. Now research is showing the right diet could improve symptoms of it.
If your eyes are constantly irritated, itchy, red, or painful, you might have dry eye syndrome. Eye drops are one treatment option, but what you eat could also help or hurt your eyes.
“There is definitely a correlation between a bad inflammatory diet and worsening of the dry eye, so things that are inflammatory. So dairy is inflammatory. Meats are inflammatory. Eggs are inflammatory,” explained Rolando Toyos, MD, Founder & CEO of Toyos Clinic.
Dr. Toyos also says avoid processed foods whenever possible. What should you eat? Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and dry eye symptoms. They’re found in fish like trout, salmon, sardines, and mackerel.
“If they aren’t a fish eater, we’ll have them start an omega-3 supplement,” Dr. Toyos told Ivanhoe.
Vitamin C has also been shown to protect the eyes from pollution and improve tear production. It’s abundant in broccoli, brussel sprouts, and citrus fruits. Vitamin E, found in sunflower oil, almonds, pumpkin, and spinach, helps protect the retina from injury and supports the maintenance of the tear film layer in the eye. Vitamin A, which is found in carrots, squash, and tuna, may also help reduce dry eye symptoms and improve tear quality. And recent research shows caffeine in drinks like coffee, black tea, and green tea, may stimulate tear production.
Studies also show that a vitamin D deficiency may be linked to worse dry eye symptoms. The best way to get vitamin D is to spend ten to 15 minutes in the sun each day. It’s important to note that food isn’t a replacement for other medical therapies that your doctor prescribes.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor
Sources:
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/dry-eye
https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-best-foods-for-dry-eyes-5206099#citation-9
CAN YOU RELIEVE DRY EYE WITH DIET?
REPORT #2939
BACKGROUND: Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in older adults. With each blink of the eyelids, tears spread across the front surface of the eye, known as the cornea. Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away foreign matter in the eye and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear. Excess tears in the eyes flow into small drainage ducts in the inner corners of the eyelids, which drain into the back of the nose. Dry eyes can occur when tear production and drainage is not in balance. Currently between 16 million and 49 million Americans have dry eyes; this is between 5 and 15 percent of the population. Nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids and avoiding dehydration by drinking at least 8 to ten glasses of water each day may help decrease dry eye symptoms in some people.
(Source: https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye?sso=y
https://dryeyedirectory.com/dry-eye-statistics/)
THE STUDY: A study published by Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Journal concluded that “an overall healthier diet, as well as a higher consumption of vegetables and vegetarian protein alternatives, was found to be correlated with a lower severity of dry eye, suggesting that lower inflammatory diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, may have a protective effect against dry eye.” In another study, published by U.S. National Library of Medicine, further emphasizes the importance of the Mediterranean diet by saying, “The results of our study show that the implementation of a MedDiet pattern for 6 months is beneficial for patients with metabolic syndrome suffering from dry eye, and could be beneficial for patients with dry eye in general. The recommendation of the MedDiet in patients with dry eye is not only harmless but has proven beneficial systemic and cardiovascular effects.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7282256/)
NEW REGULATIONS: According to ModernOptometry, food is fuel, and supplying our bodies with the correct nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and supplements can help us lead healthier lives and decrease the risks of chronic conditions, including dry eye disease. It is essential that patients are educated about the importance of proper nutrition as a cornerstone to their treatment plans. Encouraging patients to incorporate dietary changes such as staying hydrated and increasing consumption of omega-3s; vitamins A, C, D, and E; and the antioxidants in green tea and other foods and beverages, will benefit not only their eyes but all aspects of their health.
(Source: https://modernod.com/articles/2021-mar/a-dietary-approach-to-dry-eye-disease-management)
* For More Information, Contact:
Audra Friis
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