Dry Eye May Be More Than an Eye Problem: Understanding the Whole-Body Connection

Dry, burning, gritty, watery, or irritated eyes are incredibly common—but dry eye disease, also called ocular surface disease, is not always simply a problem with your tears.

Your eyes are closely connected to the rest of your body, and factors such as inflammation, hormones, immune function, nutrition, and gut health can all influence the health of the ocular surface.

Hormones, Gut Health & Autoimmunity

Hormone changes can have a significant impact on the eyes. Estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, and other hormones influence tear production, the oil glands in the eyelids, and inflammation. This is one reason some people notice changes in their eyes during pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, or with thyroid dysfunction.

Gut health may also play a role. We are learning more about the relationship between the gut microbiome, immune function, and inflammation throughout the body. Because the ocular surface is particularly sensitive to inflammation, an imbalance in the gut may contribute to or worsen ocular surface symptoms.

Autoimmune conditions can also affect the eyes. Conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and autoimmune thyroid disease may be associated with dry eye and ocular inflammation. In some cases, persistent eye symptoms may even be one of the clues that leads to the discovery of an underlying systemic condition.

Look Beyond the Surface

Not every case of dry eye is caused by a systemic imbalance, and having dry eye does not necessarily mean you have a hormone, gut, or autoimmune problem. However, when symptoms are chronic, severe, or difficult to treat, it can be helpful to ask why they are happening.

At The Eye Care Studio, we look beyond simply managing the symptoms. We consider the whole person and how inflammation, hormones, immune function, gut health, nutrition, lifestyle, and ocular health may be interconnected.

Your eyes may be giving you clues about what is happening throughout your body. By looking for the root causes and treating the whole picture, we can work toward not only more comfortable, healthier eyes—but a healthier you.



To seeing (and feeling) your best,
Dr. Ame Cline
The Eye Care Studio
www.TheEyeCareStudio.com
(740)761-2020