Dry eye and Vitamin D intake

 

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with dry eye and impaired tear function, according to a study published in the January 2016 issue of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

 

The study looked at 50 premenopausal women with vitamin D deficiency and tested them using various measures of dry eye disease (including measures of tear health, ocular surface health and others). The researchers then compared the test results to a group of women with adequate levels of Vitamin D. The women with Vitamin D deficiency had test results that showed worse tear health and ocular surface health compared to the women with good Vitamin D levels.

 

The researchers concluded that dry eye and impaired tear function in patients with vitamin D deficiency may indicate a protective role of vitamin D in the development of dry eye, probably by enhancing tear film parameters and reducing ocular surface inflammation. The researchers also recommended that patients with vitamin D deficiency should be evaluated for dry eye syndromes.

 

Proper nutrition, including nutritional supplementation, is important for the proper management of dry eye disease. In addition to Vitamin D, nutritional supplementation with essential fatty acids may be beneficial. But not all nutritional supplements are the same and it is important not to waste money on inferior products that might not be absorbed properly by the body. Always get your eye doctor's advice before beginning the use of supplements.