Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffectsSymptomsDiagnosisManagement and PreventionWhen to See a DoctorFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Effects
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Management and Prevention
When to See a Doctor
Frequently Asked Questions
Dehydration can impact your entire body, including your eyes. When there’s a lack of moisture in the body, you may be more susceptible todry eyes, which can cause discomfort and irritation, and it may even impact your vision.
Read more about the link between dry eye anddehydration, as well as ways to prevent and treat the condition.
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How Dehydration Can Affect Your Eyes
Moisture and water are important aspects of the tear film layer that protects the eyes.
The tear film is a unique layer of fluid and mucus that covers your eyeball. There are three layers of tear film, including the oily layer, watery layer, and mucus layer. The middle portion of the tear film is made up primarily of water.
When you become dehydrated, the watery layer can become too thin and affects the tear film. Dehydration also decreases tear production.
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Symptoms of Dry Eyes and Dehydration
Common symptoms of dry eyes from dehydration include:
Your diet also plays a role in dry eye symptoms. Some research suggests omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, like vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin D, and vitamin E, may help with eye health.
Over-the-counter treatments are available to help manage symptoms, like topical drops and gels.
When to Seek Professional Treatment for Dry Eyes
If your symptoms become chronic or you have vision problems, talk with a healthcare provider. In some cases, you may need prescription-strength medication to relieve dry eye symptoms. A physician can also help you create a plan to manage dry eye symptoms long term.
Summary
Dehydration impacts the whole body, including your eyes. If you are susceptible todry eyes, it’s especially important to stay hydrated to prevent the onset of frustrating symptoms such as itching and burning.
A Word From Verywell
If you develop new dry eye symptoms, it helps to discuss these symptoms with your healthcare provider. Dry eyes aren’t only uncomfortable, they can lead to complications, too. Your healthcare provider can help you create a plan to manage your symptoms long term.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYou can help hydrate dry eyes with eye drops, drinking water throughout the day, good nutrition, blinking frequently, avoiding allergens, and avoiding windy places or strong airflow.If you develop dry eye from dehydration, you’ll want to focus on drinking enough water and hydrating your dry eyes.It’s unlikely that dry eyes will lead to blindness, especially in developed countries like the United States. Although dry eye symptoms can cause scarring or visual impairment, and can lead to vision changes, if left untreated.
You can help hydrate dry eyes with eye drops, drinking water throughout the day, good nutrition, blinking frequently, avoiding allergens, and avoiding windy places or strong airflow.
If you develop dry eye from dehydration, you’ll want to focus on drinking enough water and hydrating your dry eyes.
It’s unlikely that dry eyes will lead to blindness, especially in developed countries like the United States. Although dry eye symptoms can cause scarring or visual impairment, and can lead to vision changes, if left untreated.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sherwin JC, Kokavec J, Thornton SN.Hydration, fluid regulation and the eye: in health and disease.Clin Exp Ophthalmol.2015;43(8):749-764. doi: 10.1111/ceo.12546Walsh NP, Fortes MB, Raymond-Barker P, et al.Is whole-body hydration an important consideration in dry eye?.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(10):6622-6627. doi:10.1167/iovs.12-10175Messmer EM.The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015;112(5):71-82. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0071National Health Service.Dehydration.Optometrist.org.How is dry eye syndrome diagnosed?McCusker MM, Durrani K, Payette MJ, Suchecki J.An eye on nutrition: The role of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants in age-related macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, and cataract.Clin Dermatol. 2016;34(2):276-285. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.11.009
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sherwin JC, Kokavec J, Thornton SN.Hydration, fluid regulation and the eye: in health and disease.Clin Exp Ophthalmol.2015;43(8):749-764. doi: 10.1111/ceo.12546Walsh NP, Fortes MB, Raymond-Barker P, et al.Is whole-body hydration an important consideration in dry eye?.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(10):6622-6627. doi:10.1167/iovs.12-10175Messmer EM.The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015;112(5):71-82. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0071National Health Service.Dehydration.Optometrist.org.How is dry eye syndrome diagnosed?McCusker MM, Durrani K, Payette MJ, Suchecki J.An eye on nutrition: The role of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants in age-related macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, and cataract.Clin Dermatol. 2016;34(2):276-285. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.11.009
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sherwin JC, Kokavec J, Thornton SN.Hydration, fluid regulation and the eye: in health and disease.Clin Exp Ophthalmol.2015;43(8):749-764. doi: 10.1111/ceo.12546Walsh NP, Fortes MB, Raymond-Barker P, et al.Is whole-body hydration an important consideration in dry eye?.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(10):6622-6627. doi:10.1167/iovs.12-10175Messmer EM.The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015;112(5):71-82. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0071National Health Service.Dehydration.Optometrist.org.How is dry eye syndrome diagnosed?McCusker MM, Durrani K, Payette MJ, Suchecki J.An eye on nutrition: The role of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants in age-related macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, and cataract.Clin Dermatol. 2016;34(2):276-285. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.11.009
Sherwin JC, Kokavec J, Thornton SN.Hydration, fluid regulation and the eye: in health and disease.Clin Exp Ophthalmol.2015;43(8):749-764. doi: 10.1111/ceo.12546
Walsh NP, Fortes MB, Raymond-Barker P, et al.Is whole-body hydration an important consideration in dry eye?.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(10):6622-6627. doi:10.1167/iovs.12-10175
Messmer EM.The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of dry eye disease. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015;112(5):71-82. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0071
National Health Service.Dehydration.
Optometrist.org.How is dry eye syndrome diagnosed?
McCusker MM, Durrani K, Payette MJ, Suchecki J.An eye on nutrition: The role of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants in age-related macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, and cataract.Clin Dermatol. 2016;34(2):276-285. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2015.11.009
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