What Are The Best Dry Eye Supplements?

Vitamin supplements can be helpful in treating dry eye. But which are the best?

What Are The Best Dry Eye Supplements? in Bellflower

Amplify Eyecare of Greater Long Beach

Vitamin supplements have been found to be helpful in reducing dry eye symptoms. What exactly do they do, and where can you get them?

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3s can help reduce inflammation on and around the eye. They can also help improve your tear quality by helping your meibomian glands, which produce oils that keep your tears from evaporating too quickly.

You can take omega-3 supplements as directed by a doctor, and they can also be found in various foods, including:

  • Fish
  • Soybeans
  • Green, leafy vegetables
  • Vegetable oil
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamin C

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also referred to as ascorbic acid, is helpful for several things related to the eyes, including the health of the blood vessels in the eyes, and in preventing cataracts, in addition to promoting overall eye health.

Vitamin C can be taken as a supplement, as directed by a doctor, and can be found in several foods, including:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Tomatoes
  • Cooked spinach
  • Apples
  • Bananas 
Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and can help prevent eye damage, in addition to boosting the immune system. It too can be taken as a supplement per a doctor’s direction, and can be found in several foods, such as:

  • Peanut butter
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Hazelnuts
  • Almonds
  • Sweet potatoes

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral which helps get important vitamin A to the retina to produce melanin, a pigment which protects the eyes. Zinc is not naturally made by the body, and zinc deficiency can lead to several problems, including an increased risk of eye infection.

Zinc can also be taken as a supplement, per a doctor’s directions, but it too is found in various foods, including:

  • Meat
  • Certain types of fish and seafood such as oysters, anchovies, sardines, crab, shrimp, and lobster
  • Milk
  • Beans
  • Nuts
  • Yogurt
  • Eggs
  • Fortified cereals
Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Common Questions

Some at-home remedies to relieve your symptoms of dry eyes is to apply warm compresses over your eyes for 10minutes. Some ways to achieve this at home is to boil an egg or potato then wrap it in a paper towel to place over your eyes to allow for consistent heat over your eyes. You can also heat up a bag of rice as an alternative warm compress. Taking omega-3 fish oil vitamins can also help. Also, if you stare at a digital device screen for long periods of time remember to take breaks; every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
There are various treatments used to help people who suffer from dry eyes. The type of treatment depends on the severity and type of dry eyes (aqueous or evaporative). One treatment option is to apply warm compresses 2x a day for 10 minutes over your eyes with lid massage and lid scrubs. Also using over the counter artificial tears 2-4x a day can reduce your dryness. If your dry eyes are more severe, you can also add a gel drop or ointment at night, and/or add prescription eye drops for dry eyes, such as Restasis or Xiidra. Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface, and one component that causes dry eyes is ocular surface inflammation and damage; so Xiidra and Restasis work by regulating the inflammatory processes in the eye that can affect tear production. Another treatment for dry eyes is to have your eye doctor insert punctal plugs in the inner corners of your eyes, which partially closes one of your tear ducts to allow your tears to stay longer on the front surface of your eyes and keep your eyes lubricated. There are also other in-office devices such as LipiFlow, iLUX, TearCare, Intense Pulsed Light, or Blephex that your eye doctor can use to treat your symptoms of dryness. Furthermore, changing your environment can also help reduce your dry eyes, such as adding a humidifier to your room or taking frequent breaks from your digital devices.
Depending on the severity of your dry eyes there are different eye drops we would recommend. If you have the milder version of dry eyes then over the counter artificial tears such as Systane Balance or Refresh Optive Artificial Tears may be sufficient enough to help relieve your symptoms of dry eyes. However, if you have more moderate/severe dry eyes a more viscous drop such as a gel drop or ointment may be more beneficial. In the event that over the counter eye drops are not providing much relief, there are other various prescription eye drops that your eye doctor can prescribe, such as Restasis or Cequa or Xiidra. Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface, and one component that causes dry eyes is ocular surface inflammation and damage; so Xiidra and Restasis/Cequa work by regulating the inflammatory processes in the eye that can affect tear production.
What Are The Best Dry Eye Supplements?
Dr. Ikeda cartoon

Consult a Doctor

Before you start taking any supplements to help with your dry eye, be sure to consult your doctor. Some vitamins and minerals can accumulate in the body and cause problems if too much is taken, especially if taken as a supplement. If you are interested in taking supplements to help with your dry eye or have other questions, you can contact Amplify EyeCare of Greater Long Beach at (562) 925-6591 to schedule an appointment for a consultation. Patients with dry eyes visit our clinic from all over California, and we are proud to be a leading provider of dry eye care for patients from Bellflower, Long Beach, Lakewood, and Los Angeles.

Related Articles

1 2 3

Testimonials


I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered.  This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.


Claire A.

Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.


Jim K.

My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy.  She (Chris) is absolutely great.  I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision.  I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc).  Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her.  The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!


Teresa S.

The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.


Joe M.

I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.


Kayla W.

This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional.  Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage.  Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp.  I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all.  I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.

Very professional staff and pleasant.


Daniel G.
1 2 3

Blog

Carrots for eyes

Are Carrots Good for Your Eyes?

As an optometrist at Amplify EyeCare of Greater Long Beach in Bellflower, one of the most common questions Dr. Eric T. Ikeda often encounters is: "Are carrots good for your eyes?" To put it simply, yes, carrots are indeed beneficial for your eyes. Carrots are known to improve eyesight, and this is largely due to […]

Read More
picture-focused-serious-young-caucasian-female-teacher-with-textbook-taking-off-glasses-narrowing-eyes-trying-see-something-clearly-student-girl-eyewear-posing-with-diary

Understanding Foggy vision

Is foggy vision troubling you? Let our experienced optometrist restore your sight – book an appointment today and see the difference! The term foggy vision often refers to a visual disturbance characterized by blurred, cloudy, or hazy vision, which can make seeing clearly challenging. As your local optometrist, we recognize the significance of maintaining optimal […]

Read More
6c9c7c94-592e-4cb8-a2a4-2b965a52f698

Vision Therapy for Nystagmus: Improving Visual Function and Quality of Life

According to the National Eye Institute, nystagmus affects approximately 0.24% of the general population in the United States. This means a whopping 720,000 individuals in the US face the challenges of nystagmus. How does Nystagmus Impact Vision?  Nystagmus is a condition that affects the eyes, causing involuntary and rapid movements that can make it difficult to […]

Read More
see all blogs

Contact Us To Amplify Your EyeCare

Amplify EyeCare of Greater Long Beach Logo

Working Hours

Monday & Wednesday
9:00AM–6:00PM

Tuesday & Thursday
8:00AM–5:00PM

Saturday
By appointment only

Friday & Sunday
Closed

 

 

Location
16816 Clark Ave, Bellflower, CA 90706
Fax
(562) 867-8719
Website Accessibility Policy
Safety protocols page
privacy policy
Cancellation Policy
For Patients
appointment
Call Us
Referrals
Assessments
For Patients
appointment
Call Us
Referrals
Assessments
eyefile-adduserphone-handsetcalendar-fullarrow-uparrow-right linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram