Dry eyes are the result of your eyes not being properly protected by your tears. This can occur because you lack a sufficient amount of tears or your tears are not of sufficient quality. Contributing factors can include age, eye surgery, damage to the eye, medications and the environment. No link between caffeine and dry eyes has been established; however, moderate consumption of caffeine along with proper hydration is recommended.
Dry Eyes
If your tears can't provide adequate moisture to your eyes, you can experience symptoms such as stinging, itching or burning in one or both eyes. Other symptoms can include eye fatigue after reading, blurry vision, increased sensitivity to light and a stringy mucous around the eyes. You are more at risk if you are a woman, over age 50, have had eye surgery or are undergoing radiation therapy for your eyes. Eating a diet low in vitamin A or omega-3 fatty acids can increase the likelihood of dry eyes.
Caffeine
Caffeine is found naturally in the leaves, seeds and fruits of more than 60 plants, according to Medline Plus. This includes coffee, kola nuts, cocoa beans and tea leaves. It is also found in some over-the-counter appetite suppressants and pain relievers as well as many energy drinks. Caffeine has several effects on the body including acting as a diuretic, which means it increases the amount of urine you produce. This has led some to believe it can contribute to dry eyes, although no evidence has been found to verify there is any connection.
Studies
Researchers at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, published the results a study in the March 2004 "Archives of Ophthalmology" that examined the occurrences of dry eye in an older population. They took into account several factors, one of which was caffeine. They concluded that caffeine was not a significant contributing factor to dry eyes.
Treatment
Consult your doctor if you have dry eyes. He can diagnose you and recommend a treatment that is specific to your problem. In you have only occasional dry eyes or only have mild symptoms, over-the-counter teardrops may be recommended. More serious cases, however, may require surgery or prescription medication. While coffee has not been reported to have an effect on dry eyes, moderate coffee consumption is recommended. Optometrist Dr. Michael Lange of the DryEyeZone.com website recommends consuming no more than 2 cups of coffee a day. He also recommends drinking more filtered water during the day and taking omega-3 oils from muscularly distilled fish oil to help with dry eye. Consult your personal physician before taking any supplements.
