Research has shown that
the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer,
as well as a reducing the incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases,
but can this diet have an benefit for those with dry eyes and help dry eye
symptoms?
Mediterranean Diet & Dry Eyes
Recently, researchers tried to determine
whether eating a Mediterranean diet could provide help for dry eyes. Reporting
in the journal Cornea, the researchers had patients fill out the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Dry Eye
Questionnaire and then studied their tear film and measured its quality and
quantity. They then also measured the serum level of Vitamin D for each
patient. The final results suggested
that eating a Mediterranean diet was NOT associated with an improvement in dry
eye symptoms and complaints but higher vitamin
D levels had a small but favorable effect on dry eye syndrome symptoms.
So, while the Mediterranean diet itself
doesn’t directly reduce dry eye symptoms, it does seem to be an eating plan
that can help promote health and prevent disease for your whole family. Making
sure your vitamin D intake is adequate can also be helpful if you suffer from
dry eye problems.
If you or someone you know has
questions about diet and dry eye or has dry eyes and needs help for their
symptoms, please call Doctor &
Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor
& Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or
facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.
Doctor & Associates offices
are located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195
Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk,
Connecticut 06851.
