Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsVitamin DVitamin AOmega-3 Fatty AcidsVitamin B12HoneyLifestyle/EnvironmentSeeing a DoctorNext in Dry Eye Syndrome GuideSurgery for Dry Eyes: Everything You Need to Know

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Table of Contents

Vitamin D

Vitamin A

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Vitamin B12

Honey

Lifestyle/Environment

Seeing a Doctor

Next in Dry Eye Syndrome Guide

Natural remedies can bring relief to dry eye symptoms that include stinging, scratchy irritation, red eyes, and sensitivity to light. Simple changes like blinking more often or adjusting your computer screen can bring short-term relief, while vitamin supplements or improved hydration may help to improve symptoms in the long run.

When the eyes don’t produce enough tears to stay properly lubricated or if tears are poor quality and evaporate too quickly, you may experience irritation, inflammation, and blurred vision. Your healthcare provider may need to diagnose and treat an underlying health condition, likeallergiesor an autoimmune disorder, that are leading to dry eye symptoms.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.

People with vitamin D deficiency may be prone to dry eye, according to several studies that have examined the association between vitamin D or vitamin D deficiency anddry eye syndrome.

A 2017 study that included 17,542 adults in Korea, for instance, found that vitamin D levels in those with dry eye syndrome were significantly lower than in those without dry eyes.Another small study, also in 2017, examined the association between dry eye syndrome and vitamin D levels and found that levels were lower in people with dry eye syndrome.

Correcting a vitamin D deficiency with supplements appears to improve symptoms and boost the effects when tear substitutes are used to treat dry eye syndrome.Further research is needed to better understand the role of vitamin D and dry eye symptoms.

Vitamin A deficiency leads to vision loss (particularly at night), dry eye, light sensitivity, the sensation of a foreign body, corneal ulcers, and blindness. Crying without tearing is another symptom.

In developed countries, most vitamin A deficiency is linked to specific causes, including:

Dry eye is a common side effect of a class of medications called retinoids (compounds that are related to vitamin A). Retinoids are commonly prescribed for skin conditions like acne.

More research is needed, but there’s some evidence to suggest vitamin A supplements lead to improved quality of tears.Vitamin A also is found in green leafy vegetables, orange vegetables and fruit (carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, cantaloupes), and eggs.

Recent studies suggest thatomega-3 fatty acidsshow promise as a natural approach to dry eye relief. A 2019 review of 17 studies involving more than 3,300 people showed that omega-3 fatty acid supplements improved dry eye symptoms.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation also has been found to improve dry eye somewhat in people undergoing Lasik treatment. Supplementation improved tear secretion but didn’t affect tear film stability.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found naturally in oily fish (such as salmon, sardines, trout, and mackerel), nuts and seeds, and plant oils (such as canola). Research continues into other polyunsaturated fatty acids and dry eye treatment.

Some studies suggest a benefit from B12 supplements when severe dry eye symptoms are associated with neuropathies (nerve damage) that affects the eye. This can occur, for example, in people diagnosed with diabetes or complications due toshinglesinfection.

More research is needed, but a link between B12 deficiency and dry eye symptoms could suggest a benefit from boosting B12 levels.

Research findings suggest that manuka honey may offer benefits in treating dry eye disease, but more study is needed to investigate the promising results to date. Both honey applied to the skin or used in eye drops, and honey consumed systemically, appear to have positive effects, although topical use led to stinging and discomfort in some users.

Propolis, another bee-related product, also has been investigated for dry eye treatment.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Seeing Your Healthcare Provider

Although dry eyes can be temporary (and affect everyone at some point or other in their lives), in some cases, the cause can be more serious and/or require medical treatment. If it’s left untreated, dry eye syndrome can lead to pain, corneal damage, and loss of vision.

Here are just some symptoms that should prompt a call to your healthcare provider:

If you have had recent laser eye surgery, such as Lasik or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), you should consult your surgeon or ophthalmologist.

If you have a medical condition (like diabetes, hypothyroid, hepatitis, or kidney disease) and are experiencing dry eye, consult your healthcare provider. You also may want to consider how smoking, alcohol use, and other lifestyle factors may contribute to symptoms:

Some people require medical care for dry eye symptoms. This can include punctal plugs, the placement of small plugs in your tear ducts to keep the eyes better lubricated. It also can include eyelid surgery if the position of your eyelids is leading to symptoms.

Summary

Dry eye symptoms are common and affect about 16 million people in the United States, often due to computer use or exposure to smoke, wind, or other irritants.In some cases, medication use or an underlying health condition may cause dry eyes.

While lifestyle changes, eye drops, and other simple remedies can help, treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you have an underlying cause. Talk with your healthcare provider about dry eye symptoms to ensure you have an accurate diagnosis.

19 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.Pellegrini M, Senni C, Bernabei F, Cicero AFG, Vagge A, Maestri A,et al.The Role of Nutrition and Nutritional Supplements in Ocular Surface Diseases.Nutrients. 2020 Mar 30;12(4):952. doi:10.3390/nu12040952Kamøy B, Magno M, Nøland ST, Moe MC, Petrovski G, Vehof J,et al.Video display terminal use and dry eye: preventive measures and future perspectives.Acta Ophthalmol. 2022 Nov;100(7):723-739. doi:10.1111/aos.15105Kim MJ, Hwang HR, Kim YJ, et al.Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and dry eye in Korean adults: A study based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2010-2011.Korean J Fam Med. 2017;38(2):81–85. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.2.81Meng YF, Lu J, Xing Q, Tao JJ, Xiao P.Lower serum vitamin D level was associated with risk of dry eye syndrome.Med Sci Monit. 2017;23:2211–2216. doi:10.12659/msm.901857Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A fact sheet for health professionals.Chen L, Chen Y, Yu X, Liang S, Guan Y, Yang J, Guan B.Long-term prevalence of vitamin deficiencies after bariatric surgery: a meta-analysis.Langenbecks Arch Surg.2024 Jul 20;409(1):226. doi:10.1007/s00423-024-03422-9Bergler-Czop B, Bilewicz-Stebel M, Stańkowska A, Bilewicz-Wyrozumska T.Side effects of retinoid therapy on the quality of vision.Acta Pharm.2016;66(4):471-478. doi:10.1515/acph-2016-0039Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, Alfarhan MI, Al-Shahrani A, Albakri AA,et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019 Apr 10;13:599-604. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349Giannaccare G, Pellegrini M, Sebastiani S, Bernabei F, Roda M, Taroni L,et al.Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Cornea. 2019 May;38(5):565-573. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000001884Goyal P, Jain AK, Malhotra C.Oral omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for laser in situ keratomileusis-associated dry eye.Cornea. 2017;36(2):169-175.Chi SC, Tuan HI, Kang YN.Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Nonspecific Typical Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Nutrients. 2019 Apr 26;11(5):942. doi:10.3390/nu11050942Ozen S, Ozer MA, Akdemir MO.Vitamin B12 deficiency evaluation and treatment in severe dry eye disease with neuropathic ocular pain.Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2017 Jun;255(6):1173-1177. doi:10.1007/s00417-017-3632-yPrinz J, Maffulli N, Fuest M, Walter P, Hildebrand F, Migliorini F.Honey-Related Treatment Strategies in Dry Eye Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 May 18;16(5):762. doi:10.3390/ph16050762Abd Rashid N, Mohammed SNF, Syed Abd Halim SA, Ghafar NA, Abdul Jalil NA.Therapeutic Potential of Honey and Propolis on Ocular Disease.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022 Nov 17;15(11):1419. doi:10.3390/ph15111419American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices, and eye strain.National Eye Institute.Dry eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.How Do Smoking and Vaping Damage the Eyes?Magno MS, Daniel T, Morthen MK, Snieder H, Jansonius N, Utheim TP,et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption and dry eye.Ocul Surf. 2021 Jul;21:87-95. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2021.05.005

19 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.Pellegrini M, Senni C, Bernabei F, Cicero AFG, Vagge A, Maestri A,et al.The Role of Nutrition and Nutritional Supplements in Ocular Surface Diseases.Nutrients. 2020 Mar 30;12(4):952. doi:10.3390/nu12040952Kamøy B, Magno M, Nøland ST, Moe MC, Petrovski G, Vehof J,et al.Video display terminal use and dry eye: preventive measures and future perspectives.Acta Ophthalmol. 2022 Nov;100(7):723-739. doi:10.1111/aos.15105Kim MJ, Hwang HR, Kim YJ, et al.Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and dry eye in Korean adults: A study based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2010-2011.Korean J Fam Med. 2017;38(2):81–85. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.2.81Meng YF, Lu J, Xing Q, Tao JJ, Xiao P.Lower serum vitamin D level was associated with risk of dry eye syndrome.Med Sci Monit. 2017;23:2211–2216. doi:10.12659/msm.901857Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A fact sheet for health professionals.Chen L, Chen Y, Yu X, Liang S, Guan Y, Yang J, Guan B.Long-term prevalence of vitamin deficiencies after bariatric surgery: a meta-analysis.Langenbecks Arch Surg.2024 Jul 20;409(1):226. doi:10.1007/s00423-024-03422-9Bergler-Czop B, Bilewicz-Stebel M, Stańkowska A, Bilewicz-Wyrozumska T.Side effects of retinoid therapy on the quality of vision.Acta Pharm.2016;66(4):471-478. doi:10.1515/acph-2016-0039Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, Alfarhan MI, Al-Shahrani A, Albakri AA,et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019 Apr 10;13:599-604. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349Giannaccare G, Pellegrini M, Sebastiani S, Bernabei F, Roda M, Taroni L,et al.Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Cornea. 2019 May;38(5):565-573. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000001884Goyal P, Jain AK, Malhotra C.Oral omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for laser in situ keratomileusis-associated dry eye.Cornea. 2017;36(2):169-175.Chi SC, Tuan HI, Kang YN.Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Nonspecific Typical Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Nutrients. 2019 Apr 26;11(5):942. doi:10.3390/nu11050942Ozen S, Ozer MA, Akdemir MO.Vitamin B12 deficiency evaluation and treatment in severe dry eye disease with neuropathic ocular pain.Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2017 Jun;255(6):1173-1177. doi:10.1007/s00417-017-3632-yPrinz J, Maffulli N, Fuest M, Walter P, Hildebrand F, Migliorini F.Honey-Related Treatment Strategies in Dry Eye Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 May 18;16(5):762. doi:10.3390/ph16050762Abd Rashid N, Mohammed SNF, Syed Abd Halim SA, Ghafar NA, Abdul Jalil NA.Therapeutic Potential of Honey and Propolis on Ocular Disease.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022 Nov 17;15(11):1419. doi:10.3390/ph15111419American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices, and eye strain.National Eye Institute.Dry eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.How Do Smoking and Vaping Damage the Eyes?Magno MS, Daniel T, Morthen MK, Snieder H, Jansonius N, Utheim TP,et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption and dry eye.Ocul Surf. 2021 Jul;21:87-95. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2021.05.005

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.

Pellegrini M, Senni C, Bernabei F, Cicero AFG, Vagge A, Maestri A,et al.The Role of Nutrition and Nutritional Supplements in Ocular Surface Diseases.Nutrients. 2020 Mar 30;12(4):952. doi:10.3390/nu12040952Kamøy B, Magno M, Nøland ST, Moe MC, Petrovski G, Vehof J,et al.Video display terminal use and dry eye: preventive measures and future perspectives.Acta Ophthalmol. 2022 Nov;100(7):723-739. doi:10.1111/aos.15105Kim MJ, Hwang HR, Kim YJ, et al.Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and dry eye in Korean adults: A study based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2010-2011.Korean J Fam Med. 2017;38(2):81–85. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.2.81Meng YF, Lu J, Xing Q, Tao JJ, Xiao P.Lower serum vitamin D level was associated with risk of dry eye syndrome.Med Sci Monit. 2017;23:2211–2216. doi:10.12659/msm.901857Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A fact sheet for health professionals.Chen L, Chen Y, Yu X, Liang S, Guan Y, Yang J, Guan B.Long-term prevalence of vitamin deficiencies after bariatric surgery: a meta-analysis.Langenbecks Arch Surg.2024 Jul 20;409(1):226. doi:10.1007/s00423-024-03422-9Bergler-Czop B, Bilewicz-Stebel M, Stańkowska A, Bilewicz-Wyrozumska T.Side effects of retinoid therapy on the quality of vision.Acta Pharm.2016;66(4):471-478. doi:10.1515/acph-2016-0039Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, Alfarhan MI, Al-Shahrani A, Albakri AA,et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019 Apr 10;13:599-604. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349Giannaccare G, Pellegrini M, Sebastiani S, Bernabei F, Roda M, Taroni L,et al.Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Cornea. 2019 May;38(5):565-573. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000001884Goyal P, Jain AK, Malhotra C.Oral omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for laser in situ keratomileusis-associated dry eye.Cornea. 2017;36(2):169-175.Chi SC, Tuan HI, Kang YN.Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Nonspecific Typical Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Nutrients. 2019 Apr 26;11(5):942. doi:10.3390/nu11050942Ozen S, Ozer MA, Akdemir MO.Vitamin B12 deficiency evaluation and treatment in severe dry eye disease with neuropathic ocular pain.Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2017 Jun;255(6):1173-1177. doi:10.1007/s00417-017-3632-yPrinz J, Maffulli N, Fuest M, Walter P, Hildebrand F, Migliorini F.Honey-Related Treatment Strategies in Dry Eye Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 May 18;16(5):762. doi:10.3390/ph16050762Abd Rashid N, Mohammed SNF, Syed Abd Halim SA, Ghafar NA, Abdul Jalil NA.Therapeutic Potential of Honey and Propolis on Ocular Disease.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022 Nov 17;15(11):1419. doi:10.3390/ph15111419American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices, and eye strain.National Eye Institute.Dry eye.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.How Do Smoking and Vaping Damage the Eyes?Magno MS, Daniel T, Morthen MK, Snieder H, Jansonius N, Utheim TP,et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption and dry eye.Ocul Surf. 2021 Jul;21:87-95. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2021.05.005

Pellegrini M, Senni C, Bernabei F, Cicero AFG, Vagge A, Maestri A,et al.The Role of Nutrition and Nutritional Supplements in Ocular Surface Diseases.Nutrients. 2020 Mar 30;12(4):952. doi:10.3390/nu12040952

Kamøy B, Magno M, Nøland ST, Moe MC, Petrovski G, Vehof J,et al.Video display terminal use and dry eye: preventive measures and future perspectives.Acta Ophthalmol. 2022 Nov;100(7):723-739. doi:10.1111/aos.15105

Kim MJ, Hwang HR, Kim YJ, et al.Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and dry eye in Korean adults: A study based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2010-2011.Korean J Fam Med. 2017;38(2):81–85. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.2.81

Meng YF, Lu J, Xing Q, Tao JJ, Xiao P.Lower serum vitamin D level was associated with risk of dry eye syndrome.Med Sci Monit. 2017;23:2211–2216. doi:10.12659/msm.901857

Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin A fact sheet for health professionals.

Chen L, Chen Y, Yu X, Liang S, Guan Y, Yang J, Guan B.Long-term prevalence of vitamin deficiencies after bariatric surgery: a meta-analysis.Langenbecks Arch Surg.2024 Jul 20;409(1):226. doi:10.1007/s00423-024-03422-9

Bergler-Czop B, Bilewicz-Stebel M, Stańkowska A, Bilewicz-Wyrozumska T.Side effects of retinoid therapy on the quality of vision.Acta Pharm.2016;66(4):471-478. doi:10.1515/acph-2016-0039

Alanazi SA, El-Hiti GA, Al-Baloud AA, Alfarhan MI, Al-Shahrani A, Albakri AA,et al.Effects of short-term oral vitamin A supplementation on the ocular tear film in patients with dry eye.Clin Ophthalmol. 2019 Apr 10;13:599-604. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S198349

Giannaccare G, Pellegrini M, Sebastiani S, Bernabei F, Roda M, Taroni L,et al.Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Cornea. 2019 May;38(5):565-573. doi:10.1097/ICO.0000000000001884

Goyal P, Jain AK, Malhotra C.Oral omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for laser in situ keratomileusis-associated dry eye.Cornea. 2017;36(2):169-175.

Chi SC, Tuan HI, Kang YN.Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Nonspecific Typical Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Nutrients. 2019 Apr 26;11(5):942. doi:10.3390/nu11050942

Ozen S, Ozer MA, Akdemir MO.Vitamin B12 deficiency evaluation and treatment in severe dry eye disease with neuropathic ocular pain.Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2017 Jun;255(6):1173-1177. doi:10.1007/s00417-017-3632-y

Prinz J, Maffulli N, Fuest M, Walter P, Hildebrand F, Migliorini F.Honey-Related Treatment Strategies in Dry Eye Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 May 18;16(5):762. doi:10.3390/ph16050762

Abd Rashid N, Mohammed SNF, Syed Abd Halim SA, Ghafar NA, Abdul Jalil NA.Therapeutic Potential of Honey and Propolis on Ocular Disease.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022 Nov 17;15(11):1419. doi:10.3390/ph15111419

American Academy of Ophthalmology.Computers, digital devices, and eye strain.

National Eye Institute.Dry eye.

American Academy of Ophthalmology.What Is Dry Eye? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment.

American Academy of Ophthalmology.How Do Smoking and Vaping Damage the Eyes?

Magno MS, Daniel T, Morthen MK, Snieder H, Jansonius N, Utheim TP,et al.The relationship between alcohol consumption and dry eye.Ocul Surf. 2021 Jul;21:87-95. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2021.05.005

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