The front surface of your eye needs a coating of your natural tears to help protect the tissues. If your eyes do not produce enough tears or if the tears do not have the appropriate consistency, you may have dry eye. A number of conditions may contribute to this condition, and low DHEA levels may also play a role. Understanding your condition and the possible contributing factors may help you avoid symptoms or reduce the their severity.
Symptoms
Dry eye may cause the surface of your eyes to sting and burn, or you may feel as if you have something in your eye. Your eyes may feel tired or sensitive to light. Excessive watering may also occur with dry eye, and this stems from the body's natural response to inadequate tears. Although a flood of tears may seem like the thing you need to relieve dry eye, these tears have a thin, watery consistency and do not contain the oil and mucous your tear film requires. As a result, the excessive tearing washes away any of the beneficial tear film on your eye's surface, exacerbating your dry eye problem.
DHEA
Your body produces DHEA, also known as dehydroepiandrosterone. This hormone helps make estrogen and androgens, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. As you age, your DHEA levels decrease, but manufacturers can make a synthetic version of the DHEA hormone. Your doctor may recommend this supplement if you have health conditions such as lupus, depression, erectile dysfunction or low sex drive.
Link
A 2006 study conducted at Mustafa Kemal University in Turkey showed that low levels of DHEA may indicate an increased risk for dry eye. As of 2011, research does not show that using DHEA supplements improve or treat dry eye problems. If you think DHEA could have some benefits for your eye condition, talk with your doctor. She can help you determine if DHEA supplements may prove safe for you to try.
Considerations
If you experience dry eye symptoms, contact your eye doctor. He may recommend artificial tears -- an over-the-counter eye drop that may help reduce discomfort. Dry eye that does not respond to artificial tears may require prescription medications or an in-office procedure to help prevent tear film depletion. Your cornea, which is the clear, outer covering of your eye, and untreated dry eye could result in corneal scarring and vision loss.
