Understanding Dehydration Eyes: Causes and Solutions for Better Vision

We all know we need to hydrate, but did you know dehydration impacts the eyes? You may experience dryness, irritation, and even blurred vision when your body isn’t sufficiently hydrated. From tired eyeballs — that itchy, dry sensation — to more serious problems, hydrate to help maintain clear, comfy vision. So here is a guide to help you understand why excessive heat can dehydrate you, and what it means.

What is Dehydration and How Does it Affect the Body?

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids and electrolytes than it takes in, interrupting important functioning systems and impacting health overall. The human body consists of about 55-60% water. Hence, proper hydration is necessary to enable all the daily functions performed by the body. All of our body organs, especially the eyes, depend more heavily on water to function well and stay regularly lubricated.

Understanding Dehydration in the Eyes

To understand more about the impact of dehydration on the body, we must note in particular how dehydration can influence the health of the eyes. Dehydration is when we’re losing more fluid than we’re taking in, and it can cause uncomfortable symptoms like a dry mouth, less urine output, and tired eyes.

Regarding the eyes, our eyes depend on an adequate amount of tears to remain sufficiently lubricated. However, when fluid loss occurs, the tear film quality is faltered, creating fewer tears and a heightened susceptibility to environmental irritation.

In extreme cases, dehydration may prevent the eyes from making tears, leaving them susceptible to foreign materials and other vision problems. Drinking plenty of water during the day to properly hydrate the body is equally important for the long-term health of the eye structures that help maintain clarity of vision.

What about chronic dehydration?

If you experience chronic dehydration, it can definitely impact your eye health, particularly if the condition is not treated. Here are some things to note:

1. The vitreous humor (the gel-like substance that fills the eye) needs plenty of fluid inside to hold its shape and allow the body to function day-to-day. Without good hydration, this important part of the eye can become imbalanced leading to blurred vision or even double vision.
2. The aqueous humor, which nourishes the eye and maintains intraocular pressure, can also be impacted, which can cause complications over time.
3. While the body may experience excess watering of the eyes due to dehydration as it tries to combat dehydration, this does not substitute sufficient tear production which keeps the eyes well lubricated. If fluid loss continues, people may develop dry eyes with an increased risk of conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome (a condition that greatly affects tear production).

Risks and Consequences of Dehydration to the Eyes

Dehydration can occur when the body loses fluids through sweating, urination, and bowel movements without replenishing them. But it doesn’t just happen; a few things usually take place that leads to dehydration (these are called the risks of dehydration).

Extreme heat, as one of the core causes of dehydration), forces the body to sweat excessively, leading to rapid fluid loss that can disrupt daily bodily functions and decrease urine output. Vomiting, on the other hand, expels both fluids and essential electrolytes, making it difficult to properly hydrate, while diarrhea accelerates fluid depletion, increasing the risk of dehydration affecting multiple systems, including vision.

Alcohol is another cause, as it acts as a diuretic, causing increased urination and a reduction in aqueous humor production, which is essential for clear vision. In the same way, caffeine, when consumed in excess, can have a similar diuretic effect, worsening fluid loss. Diabetes further complicates hydration by altering urine output, making dehydration more likely if not carefully managed.

Regardless, dehydration also has its side effects:

Health Complications

Severe dehydration is much more than just feeling thirsty — it can lead to a domino effect of perilous health complications if not treated. When the body loses more fluid than it takes in and doesn’t replenish the fluid, it can interfere with processes that are essential to the functioning of organs. Kidney stones can form when there is not enough water to dilute the minerals in the urine, causing painful blockages.

In severe cases, dehydration impacts blood volume, leading to a critical lowering of blood pressure that can cause shock. Without intervention, organs such as the kidneys and liver might not be able to filter toxins, and they could go into organ failure stages. A coma can also set in as the body enters a conservation mode in a futile effort to divert blood and oxygen to the brain when circulation and oxygen delivery are inadequate. In the most extreme cases, death is a real threat as dehydration becomes life-threatening.

Eye Problems

Outside of these more life-threatening concerns, dehydration can lead to some big problems for eye health. A stable tear film is required to lubricate and protect the eyes. When dehydrated, the body produces fewer tears, which leaves the eye’s surface with less moisture to lubricate themselves sufficiently.

This can cause chronic dry eyes, discomfort, irritation, and even vision disturbances such as blurred or double vision. Chronic dehydration will eventually up the risk of the eyes developing infections and worsen underlying conditions.

Staying Hydrated for Better Eye Health

Having enough water helps keep the eyes adequately moist throughout the day, avoiding dryness, irritation, and excessive watering from an unbalanced tear production.

Specifically, increased water consumption supports the epiphora and vitreus, which are vital to the clarity of sight and the health of the eye as a whole. Many people drink much less fluid than they require and are thus at risk for dehydration-induced eye strain. That’s because our eyes are not usually our first thought when it comes to hydration; however, drinking water with morning coffee or an alternative (try an electrolyte beverage or herbal tea) can seriously help your eyes to feel good right from the get-go.

Treatment and Relief for Dehydration Eyes

The best way to prevent or treat dehydration is…of course, hydration. But there’s a lot more to this:

1. Besides drinking more water, artificial tears or lubricating eye drops can give immediate relief by replenishing moisture and washing out foreign debris that may irritate the eyes.
2. Making small changes to diet, like decreasing salt and increasing omega-3 fatty acids, can also help — maintaining fluid balance and healthy tear film.
3. Environmental modifications, such as humidifying the air, can help limit tear evaporation, and consciously blinking and resting the eyes can alleviate some strain.
4. You can also avoid excessive screen time, making it critical to take breaks often and use the 20-20-20 rule to maintain clear, comfortable vision.

Emergency Situations: When to Seek Immediate Medical Help

If you’re diagnosed with a disease or on medications that can lead to dehydration, comprehensive eye exams are essential to detect any eye problems early on. Keep in mind that proper hydration is key to keeping your long-term eye health safe. So, if you’re feeling severely dehydrated — confused, not peeing, with a racing heart and sunken eyes — get medical assistance right away.

Biblography

• https://www.optometristsclinic.com/b/dehydration-and-ocular-health
• https://northgeorgiaeye.com/dehydration-affects-your-eyes-too
• https://www.plymouthfamilyoptometry.com/can-dehydration-affect-your-eyes
• https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/related/does-dehydration-affect-eyes
• https://www.drstrungaru.com/articles/951917-december