Dry eye syndrome has many causes including inadequate tear production, quick tear evaporation, inflammation, gland dysfunction or tears that lack the needed mucus to stick to the eye's surface. Mildly dry eyes become irritated, itchy and sensitive to light. In more severe cases the eyes become red and painful and vision may become blurry. Consuming more water and less caffeine and alcohol can help relieve these symptoms, as can taking or eating foods with certain vitamins.
Omega-3 Oil
Numerous medical articles have touted the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids that can help a range of health problems including dry skin, poor vision and inflammation. According to Marc Grossman, an optometrist and author of "Natural Eye Care," consuming essential fatty acids boosts the production of both the oily and watery layers of tear film. Ophthalmologist Dr. Steven L. Maskin, author of "Reversing Dry Eye Syndrome," reports that tuna and salmon are two of the fish highest in omega-3s. Tuna canned in water is better than tuna canned in oil because the oil can leach out some of the natural tuna oil. According to the website NutritionData.com, other good sources of omega-3s include flax seed oil, chia seeds, cod liver oil, mackerel, radish seeds and walnuts. Chia seeds are tiny seeds that used to be commonly used by Indians in the Southwest and Mexico.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is important for eye health, and dry eye syndrome is common in developing countries that lack foods high in this vitamin. According to Dr. Maskin, vitamin A is essential for normal health of the corneal epithelium---the surface tissues and the conjunctiva can become scaly and dry with vitamin A deficiency. An early symptom of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. Dr. Grossman recommends that people should have their thyroid levels checked before beginning a regimen of high dose vitamin A because an underactive thyroid prevents beta carotene from being converted to vitamin A. Foods high in vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, eggs, cheese and turkey.
The B Vitamins
According to Dr. Grossman, all of the B vitamins are important in treating dry eye syndrome, but vitamin B6 is especially important because it aids in the proper absorption of magnesium. Magnesium helps produce a hormone called prostaglandin E-7 which helps with tear production. In addition, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and Dr. James F. Balch, authors of "Prescription for Nutrition Healing" recommend 50 to 100mg of each major B vitamin daily to improve intraocular cellular metabolism. Folic acid also known as B9--plays an important role in maintaining a healthy level of potassium in the body, contributing to fluid metabolism. B vitamins can be found in meat, potatoes, bananas, lentils, beans and molasses.
vitamin E
According to Dr. Grossman, vitamin E is helpful for dry eye patients. It is found in nuts and sunflower seeds. Writers on the AllAboutvision.com website recommend that a physician be consulted when considering high doses of vitamin E because some studies indicate that they may cause increased bleeding or other problems.
Potassium
Dr. Grossman reports that potassium is the most important mineral to treat dry eye symptoms and that patients with dry eyes often have a potassium deficiency. Potassium can be found in many fruits and vegetables including apples, apricots, bananas, spinach, carrots, broccoli and squash. It is also found in milk products, fish, meat, wheat and bran.
References
- Eye Doctor Guide: Essential Fatty Acids
- Visionworks USA: Dry Eyes--There is Hope
- All About Vision: Nutrition and Vitamins for your Eyes
- "Reversing Dry Eye Syndrome"; Dr. Steven L. Maskin; 2007
- "Natural Eye Care"; Marc Grossman, O.D.; 1999
