Vitamin Supplements for Dry Eyes

Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or the tears are of poor quality. It can cause burning, stinging, and irritation in your eyes.

Fortunately, there are several ways to manage your dry eye symptoms, like consuming vitamin supplements.

While research on supplements for dry eyes is still evolving, studies indicate that some vitamins may help prevent and relieve dry eye symptoms.

Vitamin Supplements For Dry Eye Prevention

While eating a nutritious diet contributes to good eye health, it’s not always easy to get all the nutrients you need from meals at the dinner table. If you’ve been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, you may want to consider taking vitamin supplements to alleviate dry eye symptoms.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A helps protect the surface of the eye by being an effective barrier to bacteria and viruses, reducing the risk of eye infections. Vitamin A deficiency, which occurs mainly among disadvantaged groups, is primarily caused by food deprivation. In some areas of the world, up to 50% of preschool children don’t get enough of this essential vitamin.

Vitamin A deficiency can increase your chances of developing dry eye disease. By consuming foods rich in vitamin A, like carrots, spinach, tomatoes and other orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, you can help prevent dry eye. Eye drops containing vitamin A can also be an effective treatment for dry eyes.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus. It can be triggered by the sun (when exposed to the sun, your skin produces vitamin D) and is found in supplements and certain foods.

Vitamin D deficiency can cause dry eye symptoms since it’s associated with poor tear quality and tear film dysfunction. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, vitamin D supplements may help reduce inflammation of the eye’s surface.

Research has also shown vitamin D supplementation to boost the effectiveness of lubricating eye drops, while oral vitamin D supplements increased tear quality and reduced dry eye symptoms.

Omega 3

According to a 2019 study, conducted by the University of Melbourne, omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to significantly reduce inflammation which may alleviate dry eye symptoms, like irritation and pain. Because omega 3 reduces the inflammatory response of the body, this ensures that meibomian glands in the eyelids secret oil into the tears, which, in turn, prevents the tears from evaporating too quickly.

Fish, leafy vegetables, vegetable oil, soybeans, nuts, and seeds are excellent sources of omega 3. Fish oil and flaxseed oil supplements also contain high doses of this fatty acid.

Links between vitamins and minerals and dry eyes are becoming increasingly apparent as more studies are conducted. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and establish the optimum treatments to benefit people with dry eyes.

Do you or someone you love suffer from dry eye syndrome? Contact Calgary Dry Eye Treatment Centre to consult with an eye doctor who will be happy to advise on the potential benefits of consuming vitamin supplements and increasing certain foods in your diet.

Calgary Dry Eye Treatment Centre is pleased to offer lasting and effective dry eye treatments so that you can enjoy eye and vision comfort for a more enjoyable quality of life.

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18848318/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7508114/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30531497/
• https://www.contactlensjournal.com/article/S1367-0484(17)30206-0/fulltext
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6917524/

Vitamins and Foods That Relieve Dry Eye Syndrome

Approximately 16 million Americans have dry eye syndrome. Symptoms of dry eye—other than the obvious eye dryness—include grittiness, burning, irritation and difficulty reading or looking at a screen for long periods of time. Studies have shown that certain foods help the eyes stay properly hydrated.

Specific vitamins, fatty acids and trace elements are good not only for our overall health but also for our tear film.

Omega Fatty Acids For Dry Eye

Omega fatty acids are responsible for forming the stabilizing oil layer in the tear film. If this outer layer of the lubricating film is disrupted, it can lead to dry eye symptoms like burning, redness and itchiness. In addition, omega fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Foods high in omega fatty acids include:

• Fish. cod, mackerel, salmon, trout
• Meat. red meat, pork liver
• Oils. canola oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil,
• Other animal products. cheese, eggs

Vitamins for Dry Eye

Below is a list of vitamins that help with dry eye and boosts general eye health.

• Vitamin A (retinol) helps protect the surface of the eye. Vitamin A deficiency, which usually occurs in developing countries, can cause an increase in dry eye. By adding foods rich in Vitamin A, like carrots, pumpkins, apricots, spinach, tomatoes, dairy products and liver, you can prevent the development of this condition.
• Vitamin B2 protects your eyes from cell damage. It is found in broccoli, avocados, dairy products and whole-grain products.
• Vitamin B6 is needed for a healthy tear film. Foods such as kale, potatoes, goose, mackerel, salmon and sardines contain high doses of vitamin B6.
• Vitamin B12 is also important for lubricating the eyes. It’s typically found in mackerel, beef liver, calf’s liver and pork liver. It is also found in dairy products and eggs, though in smaller amounts.
• Vitamin C protects against oxidative stress and plays an important role in maintaining a functioning tear film. It can be found in peppers, broccoli, rosehip, acerola berries and brussels sprouts.
• Vitamin E is necessary to protect your eyes against cell damage as well as dry eye. This vitamin is prominently found in sunflower oil, mackerel, wheat germ oil, peppers, spinach, mangos and redcurrants.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants that help cells function correctly and stay healthy. They help prevent many chronic eye diseases, including dry eye syndrome. Foods rich in these antioxidants include leafy greens like romaine lettuce, kale and spinach. They are also available as supplements.

Zinc for Eye Health

Zinc plays an important role in keeping your eyes healthy. This mineral is responsible for getting vitamin A from your liver to your retina and produces melanin, a pigment that protects your eyes. Dairy, whole grains, nuts, sweetcorn, peas and lentils are all excellent sources of zinc.

Drink Water to Hydrate Your Eyes

Lastly, drink water. While it may seem obvious, many of us forget to drink enough water. Staying hydrated can help improve eye comfort and is vital for your kidneys, bowels and radiant-looking skin.

Eating healthy and staying hydrated helps to ensure your eyes get the vitamins and minerals they need. So go ahead and protect your vision, improve eye health and relieve your dry eye symptoms by adding these nutrients to your diet. However, remember to always consult your eye doctor before taking any supplements.

Contact Calgary Dry Eye Treatment Centre to learn more and to explore our effective and lasting treatments to relieve your dry eyes so you can live your best life.

Calgary Dry Eye Treatment Centre serves patients from Calgary, Bridgeland, Macleod Trail and Panorama Hills, all throughout Alberta.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL)

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy is among the more groundbreaking treatments for dry eye and styes. This in-office treatment uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation around the eyes, enabling oil-producing meibomian glands to better lubricate the eyes and significantly reduce unpleasant dry eye symptoms.

How Does IPL Treatment Work?

The primary cause of dry eye syndrome is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), which occurs when the oil-producing meibomian glands are clogged up and unable to produce a healthy tear film. The oil is crucial as it stops your tear film from evaporating too rapidly.

During the IPL procedure, the heat emanating from the light helps liquify and release oils that have hardened and clogged the meibomian glands in the eyelids, thus reducing blockages that cause dry eye symptoms and improving the quality of your tears.

IPL Treatment

We start your IPL treatment by placing shields over your eyes to protect them from the light pulses. Following that, a thin layer of cooling gel is applied to the treatment area and a small device administers the pulses of light to the region around the eyelids, which then dislodge oil buildup.

After administering IPL, Dr. George Fung will express oil from the glands, which will restore normal oil flow in the tear film. Though patients usually notice an improvement in dry eye symptoms following their first or second treatment, it is generally recommended they undergo monthly IPL treatments over a period of 4 months. This ensures long-term success in treating both chronic dry eye syndrome and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

After IPL Treatment

While certain patients notice immediate improvements in their dry eye symptoms, it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic change.

Following the treatment, you may experience blurred vision for several days. There is no reason for concern, as it indicates that your meibomian glands are expressing more oil than your eyes are accustomed to. Aside from this, no downtime is required and you should be able to return to your daily activities right after the treatment.

Radiofrequency Therapy (RF)

Radiofrequency Therapy (RF) is a safe and effective in-office treatment for dry eyes. During the procedure, RF delivers high frequency electrical current to the skin in order to generate heat and stimulate the production of collagen.

This therapy not only melts the thick oil secretions, unclogging the meibomian gland and improving the quality of tears, but also reduces any inflammation around your eyes that may be contributing to your dry eyes.

How Does RF Treatment Work?

During the procedure, your eye doctor will use a RF handheld device to gently massage around your eye using a soothing gel. This sends the electrical current into your skin and creates a warming sensation.

The RF treatment causes no pain or discomfort, and takes on average 30 minutes to complete.

After Your RF Treatment

While certain patients notice immediate improvements in their dry eye symptoms, it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic change.

Following the treatment, you may experience blurred vision for several days. There is no reason for concern, as it indicates that your meibomian glands are expressing more oil than your eyes are accustomed to. Aside from this, no downtime is required and you should be able to return to your daily activities right after the treatment.

How Are IPL and RF Different From Other Dry Eye Treatments?

Standard dry eye treatments, such as eye drops, artificial tears, hot compresses, and eyelid scrubs, aim to temporarily relieve symptoms instead of treating the root cause of the condition. IPL and RF are unique in that they each target the source – the blood vessels surrounding the glands — enabling them to secrete oils naturally and resume their moisturizing function. This not only relieves symptoms but also slows the progression of chronic dry eye.

If you have tried various treatments and still struggle with unpleasant dry eye symptoms, we can help. Contact Calgary Dry Eye Treatment Centre today.

The Calgary Dry Eye Treatment Centre serves patients from in and around Calgary, Bridgeland, Macleod Trail, and Panorama Hills and throughout Alberta.