Dry, irritated eyes can quickly disrupt your day. The discomfort, constant stinging or burning sensations, and blurred vision can make it hard to focus on anything else. But with the right diet, nutrition, and supplements, especially when paired with dry eye treatment, you can improve the odds of preventing a dry eye flare-up in the future.
The best vitamins and supplements for dry eyes include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Lutein and zeaxanthin
What Are Dry Eyes?
Your eyes need a healthy, balanced tear film to keep themselves protected. When this balance is disrupted, our eyes become exposed to irritants.
Dry eye occurs when your eyes can’t produce enough tears or when they produce low-quality tears. Other times, problems with your eye drainage can cause dryness. This is an extremely common eye condition that’s easily recognizable by a constant burning, stinging, dried-out sensation.
Dry eye often causes:
- Blurred vision
- Redness in the eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- A feeling of having something in your eyes
Environmental and lifestyle factors can cause dry eyes temporarily. Windy weather or sleep deprivation can both cause a burning or stinging sensation in your eyes.
However, chronic dry eyes require diagnosis and professional treatment. If left untreated, dry eye can lead to significant long-term damage like blindness and corneal damage.
Your optometrist can provide a treatment plan, which may include professional treatments, dry eye products, and a nutrition plan. With the right diet and nutrition, you can supplement treatment and promote a healthy tear film.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are well-known for their anti-inflammatory properties. These healthy fats are essential for reducing inflammation in the body, and make a significant difference in preventing dry eye symptoms.
These fatty acids stabilize the tear film while promoting healthy tear production, which is crucial for keeping your eyes protected. You can find these in supplement form at most pharmacies and grocery stores. For natural sources, you can find omega-3 fatty acids in foods like:
- Salmon
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Walnuts
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseeds
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in your eye health. Vitamin A deficiency can cause significant damage to the eyes and other sensitive systems throughout the body.
Vitamin A helps maintain a healthy immune system, improves the health of your eye’s surface, and helps protect your retinas from damage, reducing the risk of developing serious eye issues like age-related macular degeneration.
Foods rich in vitamin A include:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, meaning that it protects your body against oxidative damage over time. Oxidative stress can harm cells throughout your body—especially in sensitive organs like the eyes—which can make conditions like dry eye more prominent.
Vitamin C promotes healthy cell recovery and can easily be found in foods like:
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Broccoli
- Kiwi
- Bell peppers
- Brussels sprouts
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a key role in supporting your immune system, and it helps reduce inflammation throughout the body. This makes a significant difference when you’re dealing with dry eyes. Vitamin D can help reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent future flare-ups.
You can find vitamin D in supplements or get it naturally from foods such as:
- Fatty fish like salmon and tuna
- Fortified dairy products
- Egg yolks
- Mushrooms
You can also consider spending more time outdoors. Sunlight helps your body naturally produce vitamin D. Just make sure to keep your eyes protected from sun damage with UV-blocking sunglasses.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants that can help maintain eye moisture and protect against oxidative damage to keep your eyes in good shape. Both lutein and zeaxanthin are found in high concentrations in the retina, where they filter out harmful light rays to help keep your vision healthy.
You can find these antioxidants naturally in:
- Leafy greens
- Corn
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Eggs
- Goji berries
Supplements are also available for people who may not get enough from their diet.
What Supplements Are Right for You?
While taking the right vitamins and supplements can make a significant difference, it’s essential to make sure you’re taking the right ones. Contact Golden Vision for help finding the right dry eye treatment method for you.
Our team can assess your eye health, recommend dry eye therapy options, and help find the right supplements to keep your eyes healthy. Book an appointment with our team today, and say goodbye to your dry eyes.
