Monday, March 13, 2017

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked with Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome.

Vitamin D Deficiency link with Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome

A new research study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases finds that vitamin D deficiency is strongly associated with dry eye and its severity.  We also know that treating dry eyes with Vitamin D alone is not enough.  

What is Dry Eyes?

Dry eye is a common condition where the eye may not be producing enough tears, or when the tear is not thick enough therefore, evaporating too quickly resulting in "Evaporative Dry Eyes"  The symptoms of dry eyes include but not limited to : discomfort, stinging, redness, tired, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, foreign body sensation and more.  Inflammation is the biggest culprit of dry eye syndrome.  

Linking between Dry Eyes and Vitamin D Deficiency

Researchers wanted to find out the role of vitamin D plays  in dry eyes because of its anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, researchers have proposed that vitamin D may help prevent dry eyes by inducing cathelicidin, an anti-microbial protein that can be produced by cells in the eyes and heal eye wounds.

Design of Research Study

The researchers used three different tests to diagnose dry eyes: Schirmer’s test, tear break-up time test (TBUT) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI). They also evaluated the functional status, pain severity and fatigue severity of the subjects by using the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Visual analogue scale-pain (VAS-pain) and the Fatigue severity scale (FSS), respectively.

Vitamin D deficiency is defined as having blood vitamin D level less than 20 ng/ml, where as normal is around 50 ng/ml. 

Research Outcome and Results Summary. 

1.  More than half of the vitamin D deficient people cannot produce enough tears - as measure by schirmer's test.

2. Vitamin D. deficient people are 3 times like to have evaporative dry eyes due to tears not thick enough.  As measured by Tear Breakup Test

3.  Vitamin D deficient people are  3 times more likely to have severe dry eye symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and visual impairment.  


Conclusion

However, it seems possible that if you keep your vitamin D level around 50 ng/ml (125 nmol/L), it is much less likely you will be bothered by dry eye.

TheraLife Eye - help you restore, revive and produce your own tears for dry eye relief, all day long.  







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Citation of article

Tovey, A. & Cannell, J. New study suggests vitamin D deficiency is related to dry eye. The Vitamin D Council Blog & Newsletter, 2015.

2 comments:

  1. New Research indicating Vit. D deficiency with dry eye syndrome. Find out more from TheraLife. Call 1-877-917-1989 US/Canada, International (650) 917-1989

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  2. How to relief your chronic dry eyes with Vitamin D. Learn from TheraLife today

    ReplyDelete