Diet and Food Guidance for Dry Eye

No food cures dry eye, but what you eat genuinely feeds the tear film - and a few deficiencies make dry eye measurably worse.

What helps:

• Omega-3 fats have the most studied relationship with dry eye. They support the oily layer of tears and calm inflammation. Sources: fatty fish (rohu, surmai, sardines) twice a week, or for vegetarians flaxseed (alsi), chia, walnuts and a little cold-pressed mustard oil in cooking. Studies on supplements are mixed - food first.
• Vitamin A is essential for the eye's surface; real deficiency causes severe dryness and still occurs in India. Get it from orange and dark-green produce - carrots, papaya, mango, pumpkin, spinach, methi - plus eggs, milk and liver for non-vegetarians. Do not take vitamin A supplements without a doctor's advice; excess is toxic, especially in pregnancy.
• Hydration. Tears are mostly water. In AC offices and Indian summers, under-drinking is common; steady water through the day, plus coconut water, nimbu pani (light on sugar), and buttermilk all count.
• Vitamin D insufficiency is linked with dry eye in several studies - sensible sunlight and, if a test shows deficiency, doctor-guided correction.
• A generally anti-inflammatory plate - vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dals, nuts, less deep-fried and ultra-processed food - supports the inflamed lid margins behind most dry eye.

What to ease off:

• Excess caffeine and alcohol, both mildly dehydrating.