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  • Causes & Diagnosis

Diabetes and Dry Eyes: What You Should Know

  • Last updated March 6, 2023

5 min read

Heather Cottrell
Written byHeather Cottrell
Jovi Boparai, MD
Reviewed by Jovi Boparai, MD
Heather Cottrell
Heather Cottrell

Bio

Since becoming a Certified Health Coach in 2005, researching and creating content to help people live longer, healthier lives is my passion. As a content creator and online marketing coach for health coaches, I spend most of my time working on screens. Keeping my eyes healthy is important not just to my work, but to my life!

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: creating content
Food: is coffee a food? ;)
Superhero: Wonder Woman
Guilty pleasure: bingewatching my favorite shows
Secret power: learning online tech quickly

Training:

Undergraduate: Fordham University
Health and wellness training: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Jovi Boparai, MD
Jovi Boparai, MDCo-founder & CEO of CorneaCarePhiladelphia, PA

Bio

Dry eye disease is tough! I get it. I have struggled with dry eyes for several years from contact lens use, and from spending countless hours looking at computer screens. In college, my dry eyes got so bad that I couldn’t wear contact lenses, because of a constant “foreign body sensation” when I had them in. I had to stop reading every 30 minutes because my eyes would start to burn and my vision would get blurry. I tried a plethora of treatments and nothing seemed to work. Dry eye disease was not only impacting my eyes, but also my emotional wellbeing. It was preventing me from enjoying life, and getting in the way of my professional training. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated and hopeless.

It was only when I realized that my dry eyes were linked to my lifestyle, environment and overall health did things start to make sense. I noticed that on days when I spent less time on the computer, my eyes felt better. My symptoms would flare when it was windy, or when there was low humidity. I knew that if I wanted to get ahead of my dry eyes, I needed to not only treat my eyes, but to also address my lifestyle. I started a consistent regimen of artificial tears and eyelid hygiene. I switched from monthly contact lenses to daily contact lenses. I started taking scheduled breaks from looking at a computer. I ate a healthier diet focused on anti-inflammatory/antioxidants foods, and I bought a humidifier for my room. In the beginning doing all this seemed impossible, but over time it became part of my usual routine. Not only did my eyes feel better, but I was overall healthier and happier! Turns out what is good for my eyes, was also good for my mind and body. I carried this lesson with me as I started my career to become an ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon.

Because of my personal journey and professional training, I believe dry eye treatment starts by listening to and empowering the patient. I listen for the struggles and cue in on their strengths, while picking up on their lifestyle. Only then do we together start building a treatment plan that incorporates good eye hygiene with small, but impactful lifestyle changes. Our sight is our most important sense, and it is intimately linked to our very being. I want dry eye patients to not only get their dry eyes under control, but to also enjoy good mental and physical health, and live a fulfilling life. What is good for the eyes should also strengthen the mind and fortify the body!

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: vintage watches
Food: peanut butter
Superhero: Superman
Guilty pleasure: desserts
Secret power: has never had a headache

Training:

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh Honors College
Medical school: Weill Cornell Medicine
Ophthalmology residency: Wills Eye Hospital.

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Table of Contents

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, there are a number of eye issues to be concerned with, including dry eyes.

Dry eyes can be a nuisance that causes eye discomfort. It can also become a chronic condition known as dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome which interferes with many areas of your daily life.

Dry eye disease can also lead to damage to the eye without proper treatment.

In this article, you’ll learn more about how dry eye disease is related to diabetes. We’ll also go over the symptoms of dry eye, how it’s treated, and what you can do to manage your dry eye symptoms.

Key Points

  • Dry eye disease is one of many eye conditions associated with diabetes.
  • Managing your blood sugar levels can help reduce dry eye symptoms.
  • Work with your healthcare professional to manage diabetes and dry eyes.
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The Connection between Diabetes and Dry Eyes

If you have diabetes, you may be aware of certain potential complications related to your eye health. These may include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and diabetic cataracts, caused by chronically high blood glucose.

Less commonly known however is that dry eye disease, also referred to as keratoconjunctivitis sicca and dry eye syndrome, is also common among both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients.1

Research has discovered that diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for dry eye disease. In people over the age of 65 with diabetes, 15-33% suffer from dry eye disease. Further, women are twice as likely to have dry eye disease, and the risk increases with age in both genders.1

It appears that neuropathy, a condition related to nerve damage in diabetic patients, could be at the root of the connection between diabetes and dry eyes.2 

In fact, high blood sugar levels cause dysfunction in the lacrimal gland. This gland is essential to producing your eye’s tear film and damage to the lacrimal gland decreases tear production leading to dry eye syndrome.3

Without treatment by an eye care professional, dry eye disease may lead to:

  • corneal ulcers
  • conjunctivitis
  • permanent damage to the ocular surface
  • increased risk of conditions that cause vision loss
  • decreased work productivity
  • negative impacts to your social life and mental health

Fortunately, managing your blood sugar within a healthy range can reduce your risk of dry eye syndrome.

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Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

Your eyes are always producing tears, which are made up of aqueous (water), oil, and mucus. Dry eye symptoms occur when your eyes lack enough tears to maintain the lubrication needed to stay healthy.

When there is a dysfunction in tear production or an increase in tear evaporation, your eyes become irritated and you may experience symptoms of dry eyes which include:

  • Eye redness
  • Blurry vision
  • Frequent stinging or burning
  • A sandy or gritty sensation
  • Mucus discharge
  • Discomfort when wearing contact lenses
  • Foreign body sensation in the eye
  • Excessive tears

Your dry eye symptoms may be mild, short-lived, and clear up on their own. For example, if you remove your contact lenses and switch to glasses.

However, in cases of dry eye disease caused by diabetes, you will most likely need a treatment plan from your eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) as well as the support of your healthcare professional to manage your diabetes.

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Diabetes and Other Eye Problems

Diabetes can have serious negative impacts on your eyes and chronically elevated high blood sugar levels can even lead to vision loss. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in people 18–64 years old.4

In addition to dry eye, diabetes can cause other eye issues such as:

  • Diabetic retinopathy is a common eye problem related to diabetes. High blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in your retina.
  • Glaucoma is an eye disease that starts slowly with peripheral vision loss, and may gradually lead to blindness if untreated.
  • Diabetic macular edema causes distorted vision and may lead to severe vision loss, caused by swelling related to leakage of the blood vessels in the macula.
  • Cataracts cause blurry, cloudy vision as proteins clump together inside the lens of your eye.5

Treatment Options with Diabetes and Dry Eye Disease

It’s important to see a healthcare professional and your eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) to discuss your dry eye symptoms, especially if you also have diabetes.

Your eye doctor will work with you to develop the best treatment options for your dry eye disease depending on the severity of your symptoms. When diabetes and dry eyes are linked, how you manage your diabetes may also impact your dry eye disease treatment plan. In fact, in some cases managing blood sugar levels can help reduce your dry eye symptoms.

Consistent eyelid hygiene should be the first step in dry eye symptom management. Artificial tears to lubricate your eyes throughout the day can also make a difference. However, many over-the-counter artificial tears products contain preservatives. Instead, try CorneaCare’s Recover preservative-free artificial tears.

Treatment options for severe dry eye condition might include:

  • Antibiotic eye drops to help reduce risk for infection
  • Corticosteroids eye drops may be prescribed to treat severe eye inflammation
  • Tear duct plugs may be used if other treatment options do not improve your dry eye symptoms

Tips for Managing Dry Eyes

In addition to following your doctor’s advice, there are simple lifestyle changes you can make to improve the symptoms of dry eye disease:

  • Run a humidifier at home to add moisture to the air
  • Try CorneaCare Rescue self-cooling compresses for cool immediate relief for red, inflamed dry eyes and skin
  • CorneaCare Rest self-heating warm compresses provide instant warmth for eye dryness, fatigue, tearing, and puffy eyelids
  • Take regular screen breaks and remember to blink often
  • Begin a regular eyelid hygiene routine
  • Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
  • Avoid sitting or sleeping with fans or heating vents blowing at your face
  • Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and wind
  • Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water
  • Add CorneaCare Omega-3 fatty acid supplements and CorneaCare Eye Vitamins and Minerals to your diet
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Other Causes of Dry Eyes

While high blood sugar levels can cause your eyes to not produce enough tears, diabetes is not the only cause of dry eye disease.

Common causes of dry eye symptoms include:

  • Excessive digital screen use including your computer, TV, or smartphone
  • Regular exposure to dry or windy environments
  • Prolonged contact lens use
  • Eye injuries, infections, or surgeries
  • Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and certain thyroid conditions
  • Some prescription medications including blood pressure medications, antihistamines and allergy medications, and antidepressants and anxiety medications
  • Aging

Putting It All Together

If you have diabetes, it’s important to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with dilation annually. A thorough eye exam with an eye care professional (optometrist or ophthalmologist) can detect conditions early. This will allow you to start treatment early before permanent damage to your eye health.

The best way to manage diabetes and dry eyes is with the help of your healthcare professional to manage your blood sugar levels. The recommendations above can also put you in control of your eye health and relieve some of your dry eye symptoms.

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What’s Next

At CorneaCare, we specialize in dry eye and invite you to check out our free Dry Eye 101 course to learn more about the condition and the many treatment options for your dry eye symptoms.

Bibliography

  1. Dry Eye Syndrome in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence, Etiology, and Clinical Characteristics, NIH National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4861815/#B3. Accessed 4 November 2022.
  2. Diabetic Neuropathy, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371580. Accessed 4 November 2022.
  3. Eye Health: Dry Eye with Diabetes, American Diabetes Association, https://diabetes.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/FOD-Dry-Eye.pdf. Accessed 5 November 2022.
  4. Eye Health, American Diabetic Association, https://diabetes.org/diabetes/eye-health. Accessed 5 November 2022.
  5. Taking Charge of Your Diabetes and Eye Health, American Diabetic Association, https://diabetes.org/diabetes/eye-health/take-charge. Accessed 5 November 2022.

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