Nutritional Deficiencies Associated with Dry Eye

 

Diagnostic considerations:

(1) history of a nutritional deficiency

(2) correction of dry eye after correction of the nutritional deficiency

(3) no other alternative diagnosis that can explain the findings better

 

Nutritional factors that may contribute to dry eye:

(1) hypovitaminosis A

(2) hypovitaminosis B2

(3) hypovitaminosis B12

(4) dehydration

 

Patients in whom "hyponutritional" dry eye should be considered include:

(1) alcoholics

(2) abnormal diet (anorexia nervosa, fat-free diet, etc)

(3) chronic malabsorption

(4) extensive bowel resection

(5) starvation