Advancing age: Tear production tends to diminish with age. Dry eyes are more common in people over 50[i].
Gender: Women are more likely to experience dry eyes due to hormonal changes such as those occurring during pregnancy, menopause and through the use of hormonal contraceptives[ii].
There are certain medical conditions or nutrient depletions which result in dry eyes:
Sjogren's syndrome
Allergic eye disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Lupus
Thyroid disorders
Meibomian gland dysfunction
Entropion
Vitamin A deficiency
To support healthy membranes:
Sea Buckthorn Powder - Raw Organic (35g) / Organic Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil (30ml) - Sea buckthorn is rich in omega 7, which contributes to healthy membranes and normal tear production[iii] [iv].
Beta Carotene Complex / Bilberry, Lutein & Astaxanthin Complex – Bilberry, Lutein & Astaxanthin Complex – Carotenoids are a type of vitamin A known to support eye health. Lutein and astaxanthin are carotenoids which support many aspects of eye health, helping to prevent dry eyes[vi] [vii]. Bilberry may also provide relief from dry eyes [viii].
Omega 3 - 6 - 7 - 9 Oil Blend – these omega fatty acids are beneficial for membrane health and eye lubrication[v].
Eye Drops - Extra Moisturising 10ml
Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil (150ml)
Daily Hydrating Eye Cream (12.5ml)
Consume adequate amounts of vitamin A, which is found in liver, carrots and broccoli, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, walnuts and vegetable oils[ix][x].
Use a humidifier if your environment is very dry.
Ensure you take breaks during long tasks - Close your eyes for a few minutes to replenish moisture in the eyes.
Position your computer screen below eye level - it may help slow the evaporation of your tears.
Stop smoking, smoking has been linked to an increased risk of dry eyes[xi].
[i] Sharma, A. and Hindman, H.B. (2014) “Aging: A predisposition to Dry Eyes,” Journal of Ophthalmology, 2014, pp. 1–8.
[ii] Luciana Bergamaschi, Celia Marcos Lapera, Pascual Garcia Alfaro, Alicia Úbeda,Prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) in pre and postmenopausal women, Maturitas, Volume 124, 2019,Page 175,
[iii] Petra S. Larmo, Riikka L. Järvinen, Baoru Yang, Heikki P. Kallio, Chapter 48 - Sea Buckthorn, Dry Eye, and Vision, Editor(s): Victor R. Preedy, Handbook of Nutrition, Diet and the Eye, Academic Press, 2014, Pages 473-480,
[iv] Petra S. Larmo, Riikka L. Järvinen, Baoru Yang, Heikki P. Kallio, Chapter 48 - Sea Buckthorn, Dry Eye, and Vision, Editor(s): Victor R. Preedy, Handbook of Nutrition, Diet and the Eye, Academic Press, 2014, Pages 473-480,
[v] Downie LE, Ng SM, Lindsley KB, Akpek EK. Omega‐3 and omega‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids for dry eye disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019, Issue 12.
[vi] Andrea Donoso, Javiera González-Durán, Andrés Agurto Muñoz, Pablo A. González, Cristian Agurto-Muñoz,
“Therapeutic uses of natural astaxanthin: An evidence-based review focused on human clinical trials”, Pharmacological Research, Volume 166, 2021,105479,
[vii] Vereesh Toragall, Priyanka Srirangam, Naveen Jayapala, Vallikanan Baskaran, Lutein encapsulated oleic - linoleic acid nanoemulsion boosts oral bioavailability of the eye protective carotenoid lutein in rat model,
Materials Today Communications,Volume 28, 2021,102522,
[viii] Krishann G. Anderson, Amelia Anderson, Charles G. Connor, Potential Use of Bilberry for Dry Eye Relief, Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association, Volume 82, Issue 6, 2011, Page 380,
ISSN 1529-1839,
[ix] Hyon, J.Y.; Han, S.B. Dry Eye Disease and Vitamins: A Narrative Literature Review. Appl. Sci. 2022, 12, 4567.
[x] Giannaccare, Giuseppe MD, PhD; Pellegrini, Marco MD. Et al. Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Cornea: May 2019 - Volume 38 - Issue 5 - p 565-573
[xi] Bhutia, P. et al. (2021) “The effect of smoking on ocular surface and tear film based on clinical examination and optical coherence tomography,” Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 69(7), p. 1693.
Please note that the information contained within this website does not and should not replace medical advice, and is not intended to treat or diagnose. We always recommend you consult with your doctor. Our Nutritional Therapy team is highly trained and we offer one to one Nutritional Therapy Consultations, which are designed to be complementary to any medical treatment from a functional medicine approach, as well as offering a preventative & optimal health focus.