Dry eye syndrome is condition that plagues a significant amount of people, globally. As the name suggests, in this condition, eyes become dry. The dryness presents due to dearth of quality tears, because of which eyes suffer from dryness.
The symptoms of dry eyes include pain and extreme discomfort. It also causes burning sensation in the eyes alongside redness. To make up for the dryness, eyes also become watery.
Furthermore, dry eyes also cause blurring of the vision, and sensitivity to the eyes a well. People might feel as if the surface on their eyes is scratched, or as if there is something stuck in their eyes.
Similarly, dry eyes also make the eyes tired. If you suspect a case of dry eyes, you should seek help from your eye specialist, with whom you can book an appointment easily via oladoc.com.
Foods for dry eyes
Treating dry eyes involves using different medicines, making lifestyle changes but also, improving your diet.
There are certain foods that can help you in improving the symptoms of dry eyes. These include:
Caffeine
Your habit of drinking coffee will certainly pay off if you also have dry eyes. Caffeine is shown to improve tear production, thereby helping in mitigating the symptoms of dry eyes.
Moreover, caffeine consumption has also been shown to prevent one from developing dry eyes to begin with.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are excellent sources of vitamin C. The film of tears that lubricates the eyes contains vitamin C, and naturally, increased supply of vitamin C then has a positive impact on the number of tears produced.
Orange, lemons, grapefruits, limes are some of the citrus fruits to add to your diet. You can also supplement them with other fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, including tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, broccoli etc.
Food rich in vitamin A
We have all heard the benefits of carrots for vision, but that is not all there is to vitamin A that is chiefly responsible for carrots being good to the eyes.
Vitamin A’s deficiency not only results in the problems of with vision, but it also causes dry eye syndrome.
Taking sufficient vitamin A not only helps in preventing dry eyes, but also improves the quality of the tears. Foods that are rich in vitamin A include carrots, dairy, tuna, eggs, pumpkin etc.
Food rich in Vitamin D
Deficiency of vitamin D also has been linked to dry eye syndrome, and issues with tear production. Sunlight serves as an excellent source of vitamin D alongside eggs.
Food rich in Vitamin E
Vitamin E helps in protecting the eyes. It also is required for the maintaining the health of the tear film. Consuming foods rich in vitamin E can help in increasing the amount and quality of the tears.
Foods that are rich in vitamin E include almonds, spinach, pumpkin, peats. It is also found in different oils like sunflower and safflower oil.
Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acid is not just good for the brain, but it also is helpful for preventing dry eyes. Although research is still in its preliminary phase, however, initial data has established a positive connection between the two.
Moreover, omega-3 fatty acid has also been shown to improve the quality of the tears. This nutrient is also associated with lesser evaporation of the tears, thereby holistically dealing with the problem of dry eyes.
Foods that serve as an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, sardines alongside nuts like walnuts. Seaweed, chia seeds and flaxseeds are some other food sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
However, you can also take supplements if you are unable to consume its food source.
If your symptoms do not improve after making dietary changes, you should consult with your Eye specialist in Islamabad for a more robust treatment plan.
