Annie (MA) on 01/16/2023
I have dry eyes but giving up coffee which quite a few of EC readers recommend would be hard for me! So I cold brew it overnight using dark roast beans which are less acidic than light roast. Cold-brewed coffee is less acidic than regular. I limit coffee to about 4 oz / day because it's so dehydrating. Also, most days I eat a handful of raw pumpkin seeds, which are very alkaline. While I still have some dry eye and dry mouth at night only, a humidifier has helped somewhat.
Since thyroid medication for low thyroid can also cause dryness, especially if you're an elder, and since coffee and most herbs are dehydrating (some herbs more than others), hydrating foods like cucumbers and watermelons can help. When my eyes were at their worst, I put cucumber slices on my closed eyelids for about 20 minutes several times a day and on the first day there was real improvement.
On the second and third day I also ate half a cucumber and continued with the slices. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), hot and dry is associated with yang and cold and damp with yin. Not only is apartment air mostly too hot and dry in winter, chemicals in our air and water are very drying. Dry eye is an inflammatory condition with redness, heat and not enough yin fluids. So "strengthening yin" is recommended for convalescing, chronically ill or frail people. Some foods that strengthen yin are cooked string beans and beets, many whole grains, sardines, eggs, seaweed, and certain beans. Eyes are considered skin and in TCM skin conditions are linked to the liver.
Also associated with the liver are irritability and anger-- hot emotions. They resolve when the liver energy is flowing. Liver thrives on movement and dance---even moving in place when cooped up inside! Reading on EC that aloe can cure dry eye makes sense to me from a TCM perspective: aloe is cooling and mercifully soothing for inflammation, burns and severe itching. I don't use liquid aloe b/c all brands preserve it with citric acid, which I can't tolerate. So I keep aloe plants and snip off a small bit of branch when needed. I'm grateful to this plant!
Potassium for Dry Eyes HisJewel (New York) on 12/03/2022
Potassium supplementation for Dry Eyes
If you have had to deal with any of the COVD colds these past few years check with the doctor to find out if your potassium level is up to par. Besides Vitamin C and Melatonin, Potassium was one of the earlier supplements that helped people recover from COVD. From what I understood that condition used up or drained the body's potassium.
I am adding this thought on potassium because lately I have been trying keep up with the daily recommendation for Potassium. Articles say 3,500–4,700 mg of potassium daily and that it is safer when taken in foods. This really is not hard if you love banana, spinach, prunes etc. . However, knowing that I do not have enough potassium rich foods on hand, I take potassium supplements. I noticed that when I wake up in the morning, my eyes feel much more normal. In fact, sometimes I forget it has been sticking.
I could not find much information to verify this, but what I did come up with is in this post. I found a post from PubMed that incudes what tears are made of in this statement"
"Methods: The model is based on mass balances of water and solutes such as glucose, sodium, potassium, and chloride."
Check it out the PubMed Article:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17453939/
Here is an article about potassium Deficiency and dry eyes:
https://healthfully.com/347415-potassium-deficiency-and-dry-eyes.html
I have always been concerned about seniors, and now that I am one, I see and feel what they are saying.
HisJewel
Castor Oil and Pharmacy Drops for Dry Eyes Island girl (GC) on 05/17/2022
I have had very dry eyes for the past couple of months. Also, have cataracts. Recently went to a doctor who has asked me to use Systane Ultra and Ocumed Plus eye drops during the day and VIscoear gel at night for dry eyes. Used them for a couple of days. Then I started using organic castor oil 1 drop in each eye 10 days ago. I read someone comment somewhere that we should not use pharmacy drops and castor oil drops on the same day (even with many hours gap), so stopped using the Obama drops and gel. But my eyes are quite dry and don’t know whether castor oil is helping with the cataract or not.
Just curious, has anyone used pharmacy drops during the day and castor oil at night? Is it ok to put all these in the eyes on the same day with a few hours gap? I can skip the Visco tear gel.
TMG, Vitamin A + for Dry Eyes mastershay (Albuquerque, NM) on 03/29/2022
The following keeps my eyes feeling good after having been dry for 10+ years:
TMG (Trimethyl glycine)
Sinus rinse with three drops of emulsified vitamin A (along with the salt and baking soda)
Dextrose (no other form of sugar)
Castile soap, fragrance-free for shampoo and everything (regular soaps irritate my eyes)
The following make my eyes feel worse:
Straight Sugar and foods with it (all other forms other than dextrose... however, a certain clear soda would temporarily make my eyes better)
Diets too low in starchy foods, such as G.A.P.S. (starches are needed to convert to glucose)
Baking Soda for Red Eyes Rob (Cape Hatteraas, NC) on 03/20/2022
I have redness in the corner of my left eye. I have had it over a year. My eye also produces and lot of sand and grit. My left eye always feels tired even after just waking up I read about adding 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda to an 4 ounce glass of water and splashing it in my eye and drinking it. After doing this, almost immediately, my eye felt better! Can't recommend it enough:)
Castor Oil for Dry Eyes Vaxine (Bainbridge, Ny) on 03/12/2022
I have dry eyes. Lately my eyes were worse and with cold weather didn't help. Went to the eye Dr. due to the furnaces running more because of really cold weather. I tried cold pressed castor oil without hexane. One drop in each eye at night. Couldn't believe it! Two days later and ever since unbelievable great results. Will always use it. Hope this can help someone. else.
L-Carnosine for Dry Eyes HISJEWEL (New York) on 02/09/2022
L-Carnosine for Dry Eyes
Ted was right on point with the L Carnosine for dry eyes. L-Carnosine or Carnosine is expensive, but it works hilariously. I used 1000mg a day (two capsules) the first 2 weeks then went down to 500mgs a day because of the cost, my eyes are still loving it. I no longer have to rub castor oil on my eyelids at night. May the cures continue to be revealed.
HisJewel
Maqui Berry for Dry eyes Liz (OH) on 03/16/2021
Maqui Berry supplements worked for me! I have suffered from dry eyes for two years. The condition is worse in my right eye for some reason, and also worse in the middle of the night. I had been waking up and reapplying eye drops and ointments several times each night. I read from another testimonial that Maqui Berry supplements increase tear production, and wow!!! I recommend giving it a try. I'm now seldom need eye drops and don't wake up with gritty eyes.
Devine (Seattle) on 11/13/2019
Scientists in Japan, found that maqui berry extract help dry eyes, the did a small study of 13 people that took maqui berry extract one capsule a day ( 30-60 mg) for thirty days. The concentrated maqui berry extract each day increased tear production by roughly 50%. Apparently, MBE restores tear secretion capacity. Dry eyes can be caused from several things: allergies, menopause - hormone Imbalance , thyroid issues, and if the hyroid is not working right then might need iodine which is important to secretory glands.. Food allergies especially gluten, dairy and sugar can cause issues, Inflammation in the body can be caused from unhealthy diet, dehydration, lack of sleep, and smoking. Any good eye vitamin supplement vitamin is beneficial and I read that CQ10 is important and of course the Omega oils.
Iowamom (NY) on 08/09/2019
My dry eyes are feeling so much better of late. As my vegetable garden is coming in, I decided to take Dr. Wahls’ advice, which is to get my nutrients from food. I have stopped taking supplements completely. Without a lot of experimenting, I have no way of knowing which pill was causing the extreme dryness, but if I ever resume supplements, I will start them slowly and more thoughtfully. I also wanted to add that my eyes always have felt great when I’m gardening, and I think it is because I bend over quite a lot. I can see how Sasha (April 28, 2019) below got her eye relief from an inversion table.
Sasha (Santa Barbara) on 04/28/2019
I had dry eye for years, my MD ran thyroid and hormone test, all normal. I saw 4 different eye doctors did what they suggested, I even got the blue light blocking eyeglasses, to stop eye strain I took drops and tried everything … castor oil, didn’t help me. I also stopped gluten and sugar. One day my chiropractor suggested a inversion table for my back so I got one and use it daily for 12 minutes a day. Within one week my dry eye problem disappeared.( inversion tables are NOT recommended for people that have high pressure/glaucoma in their eyes)
Anyhow at that same time I started the inversion table, I had also started adding two to three teaspoons of Lecithin Granules, to my smoothies I noticed that it made the whites of my eyes super white and clear. So, perhaps it is the combination of the two that worked.
Castor Oil for Dry Eyes Mary (Utica, New York) on 12/28/2020
I have severe dry eyes. The reason is Meiboamoan Glands are not only NOT working, many are atrophied. Dead! So believe me when I say I have tried everything.
One thing has helped tremendously. Castor oil, at night. My condition is very bad. Here’s what I do:
- First I put castor oil on my lids and around the eye area.
- Then I put a generous amount in my eyes.
- I top this treatment with a plastic wrap (mask) on top of my eyes and upper face.
So much better, cheaper and comfortable than moisture googles. The plastic wrap stays on all night. Most of the castor oil is absorbed in the skin. In the morning, I use the hot washcloth method on my eyes and use my xiidra drops.
If it hurts bad enough you will try this, and will be happy you did! I promise.
Cyclosporine for Chronic Dry Eyes Enzo (Fl) on 10/06/2020
I suffer with chronic dry eye syndrome and was told I had to use restasis. Unfortunately I couldn't afford the price tag of nearly $600 per 3ml bottle. I found the generic form in India called cyclosporine (same ingredients as Restasis) for $10. It's sold on reliableRX
Maqui Berry Extract for Dry Eyes Viola (Sparks, Nv) on 10/06/2020
I don't see anyone talking about this yet.
After 20 years of post-lasik dry eyes and trying many remedies, none of which provided satisfactory results and most of which were a real nuisance, I tried Maqui berry extract and experienced same day and ongoing relief with just one dose in the morning.
The second day I happened to yawn and actually produced tears.
This is nothing less than miraculous for me. I highly recommend you check it out.
Castor Oil for Dry Eyes Beth (Palmyra, Nj) on 09/15/2020
I was experiencing stinging eye pain and also flashes of jolting pain in my temples and other head areas. I was diagnosed with dry eye and told to purchase a Pharma product for eye lubrication. Instead I used a very small drop of organic unrefined castor oil in each eye inside the bottom lid at night and again in the morning. All symptoms disappeared after the first dose. I continue to use this routine with 100% success.
Castor Oil for Dry Eyes Beth (Palmyra, Nj) on 09/14/2020
I was experiencing stinging eye pain and also flashes of jolting pain in my temples and other head areas. I was diagnosed with dry eye and told to purchase a Pharma product for eye lubrication. Instead I used a very small drop of organic unrefined castor oil in each eye inside the bottom lid at night and again in the morning. All symptoms disappeared after the first dose. I continue to use this routine with 100% success.
