In a 2019 Canadian study, carried out in Ontario, it was discovered that nearly 25% of adults aged 55 - 64 suffered from dry eye syndrome. While this ailment occurs mostly among older people, and is more common in women than men, even those aged 25 - 34 showed a 18% incidence of this condition. (Source)
What is DES?
Dry eye syndrome is the medical term for a, not uncommon, condition which occurs when one produces poor-quality tears, or cannot produce adequate tears, to provide lubrication for the eyes. “This tear instability leads to inflammation and damage of the eye's surface.”
The primary symptom is stinging or burning of the eyes, especially in certain conditions such as when on an airplane or in an air-conditioned room, while riding a bike, or staring at a computer screen for hours.
Signs that you may have DES include:
- A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Sensitivity to light (also caused by vitamin A deficiency)
- Eye redness
- A constant sensation of having something in your eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Difficulty with nighttime driving (can also be a result of vit A deficiency)
- Watery eyes, which is the body's response to the irritation of dry eyes
- Blurred vision or eye fatigue
(Source)
Those with dry eye problems, instead of constantly relying on artificial tears, should work towards fixing the underlying cause of this condition - which the following information will address.
Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common symptoms of hormonal changes associated with perimenopause and menopause. This condition reflects the general decline in the mucosal lining of the body that occurs later in life (thus vaginal dryness is also a common related symptom). In fact, the majority of those who suffer from dry eyes are midlife women and older, though of course it can afflict either gender, especially if one is deficient in the nutrients we will be discussing.
Aside from dry eye being caused by a decline in our mucosal membranes, environmental factors can also play a role. Such factors include exposure to pollutants (especially ozone, found in smog) and excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These factors cause increased oxidative stress in the eyes and inflammation on the ocular surface, and are directly linked to dry eye disease. (Study)
Dry eyes can also be caused by:
- Old age.
- Certain medicications including allergy medicines, beta blockers, diuretics, and sleeping pills.
- Some medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome or lupus.
- Eye surgery.
- Environmental factors, such as smoky or windy conditions
For those who need temporary relief from the symptoms of dry eye while they work to fix the underlying problem, there are natural eye drops that contain no harsh chemicals or preservatives. One of the best is Similasan Dry Eye Relief, which is a homeopathic formula that has stood the test of time, and is available at most health food stores and vitamin shops.
(Speaking of eye drops, another cause of dry eye is the chronic use of eye drops used for the treatment of glaucoma, which work by reducing the amount of fluid your eye produces.)
Nutrients For Treating Dry Eye
There are certain nutrients that are particular to eye health and to keeping the eyes moist. And, of course, the more antioxidants we ingest (both from foods and supplements) the less the toxic byproducts of pollution and UV radiation can damage us, and our eyes. Thus, all antioxidant nutrients will be of benefit. But, with regards to dry eye syndrome, the primary nutrients required are vitamins A and D.
Vitamin A
As my regular readers know, I am a huge proponent of vitamin A, due to its widespread deficiency and the fact that it is essential for the maintenance and repair of all mucosal membranes in the body. This benefit also applies to the eyes and, in fact, very often dry eyes are simply due to vitamin A deficiency. Given that the main source of vitamin A in the diet is from animal liver, and most Westerners no longer consume liver, this widespread deficiency is not surprising.
Since eating liver is our primary source of vitamin A, vegan and vegetarian diets put people (especially children and pregnant women) at an increased risk of vitamin A deficiency. Even more so because the conversion of beta carotene (pro-vitamin A) found in fruits and vegetables, into retinol (fully formed vitamin A) is limited, depending on certain factors including digestive health (affected by celiac and Crohn’s disease), the presence of co-factors (zinc and adequate protein), and certain ailments (alcoholism, cirrhosis, and cystic fibrosis) which impede this conversion. A common ailment that also impedes this conversion is hypothyroidism.
Furthermore, we never know what amount of beta carotene consumed will actually be converted into vitamin A. In humans, the conversion of carotenoids into vitamin A is quite inefficient, with about 10 to 20 molecules of carotenoids needed to make just one molecule of vitamin A. As well, at least 80 % of natural vitamin A from animal sources is absorbed, but only roughly three percent of carotenoids from plant foods are absorbed. Finally, those with methylation malfunctions (which some believe could be 30 to 40% of the population), have an impaired ability to convert carotenoids into vitamin A. (Source)
One way of knowing if you are deficient in vitamin A is determining how much you squint on a sunny day. For most people, the more you squint (or the more sensitive you are to light) the more deficient you are in vitamin A. Poor night vision is also linked to vitamin A deficiency. There are a few instances of genetic issues or medications that cause light sensitivity but, for the majority of people, vitamin A deficiency is the primary cause.
It is well known in the scientific community that vitamin A is essential for eye health: “It is a natural part of the tear film (enhances the formation of the inner mucin layer of the tear film, support the outer lipid layer of the tear film, stimulate regeneration of the corneal epithelium, reduces the number of dead cells.” That is why it is commonly found in topical medications for treating dry eye. (Study)
(For a fascinating, detailed look at vitamin A, and the history of the discovery of its role in eye health, have a read of this article: Vitamin A and the eye: an old tale for modern times.)
Vitamin D
A few years ago, a scientific study found that vitamin D may be a good preventive measure to prevent dry eye syndrome, and that it can also reduce the symptoms of this disease. In particular, vitamin D reduces the inflammation of the surface of the eye, blurred vision and sensitivity to light. This study concluded that there was an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels in the body and the incidence of dry eye syndrome. (Source) I have discussed vitamin D endlessly in previous newsletters and blogs so at this point I will just say that I personally believe we need at least 5,000 IU daily, if we are in good health. (NutriStart Quick D)
In Part 2, we will look at other nutrients with a scientific track record for preventing and treating this condition, including omega-3 fatty acids, along with some lesser known approaches.
(Author: All newsletters and blogs are written by Ken Peters who has worked as a nutritional consultant for the last 30 years, and as product designer for NutriStart for the last 25 years. He has also authored two books - Health Secrets Vol. 1&2. He may be reached at: kenpetersconsulting@gmail.com)