Your diet can have an effect on all aspects of your health. When you adhere to a healthy diet, you expect that your body will be healthy. However, sometimes the foods you eat can cause discomfort and irritation in various parts of your body. One of these uncomfortable symptoms may be changes in mucus production around your eyes.
Eye Mucus
Eye mucus, which is referred to as rheum in the medical world, is produced when irritants come into contact with your eyes. Your body mounts its own defense to protect the delicate tissues of your eyes. According to DietHealthClub.com, eye mucus is produced when things such as dust and allergens come into contact with the conjunctiva, the soft tissue of your eyelid, and mix with your tears. Blinking keeps mucus from building up while you are awake, but it can accumulate while you sleep. Other reasons for eye mucus production may be strain from spending too much time looking at a computer screen, contact lenses or environmental pollutants.
Vitamin A
According to ophthalmologist Dr. Gary Heiting, OD and associate editor of the All About Vision website, vitamin A helps the mucus membranes on the surface of your eye act an a barrier to keep infectious substances out of your eyes. Dr. Heiting also suggests that, when it is an ingredient in eye drops, vitamin A can be an effective treatment for dry eyes, which is the result of insufficient mucus production. Vitamin A deficiency can cause drying of the cornea, which can result in cloudy vision or even blindness if it is left untreated.
Dairy
According to herbalist Djehuty Ma'at-Ra, writing on the Dherbs website, consumption of dairy products causes an increase in lactic acid in your body. When acid levels in your body increase, excess mucus is produced to protect your mucus membranes, including the ones in your eyes, from damage. This mucus production results in further inflammation of your mucus membranes, creating a vicious cycle. Also, according to Ma'at-Ra, dairy products are consumed in excess in western cultures, creating frequent and widespread inflammation of mucus membranes.
Food Allergies
Allergies can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including over production of mucus in an effort to keep allergens out. Food allergies are no different. According to MayoClinic.com, food allergies can result in nasal congestion and trouble breathing. The location of the mucus membranes in your eyes -- near your upper respiratory tract -- leaves them susceptible to inflammation due to histamine exposure, resulting in overproduction of mucus around your eyes.
Clearing
If you have excess mucus in your eyes, it can be greatly annoying and even impair your vision. You will probably need to find a way to clear the extra mucus without further irritating your eyes. According to DietHealthClub.com, it is helpful to wipe the mucus away with a washcloth or paper towel saturated with warm water. You may need to repeat this process, so make sure you use either a clean towel or a different spot on the towel each time to prevent introducing more irritants into your eye. DietHealthClub.com also recommends taking a break from looking at bright computer screens when your eyes become tired.
