Research Says Caffeine Can Help Cure Dry Eye Problems

Illustration (Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels)

JAKARTA - If stress with dry eye problems, it's a good idea to change some habits to stop symptoms. Despite limiting time to look at the screen and reducing alcohol consumption can help, there is one thing you don't need to leave behind, namely the habit of drinking coffee in the morning.

Some people who experience dry eyes try to avoid drinking coffee and tea, because they think coffee and tea can worsen their condition. However, some studies suggest the opposite. Caffeine is believed to be able to help overcome these symptoms.

If the eyes are dry, it means that the body does not produce enough tears. Or tears may not have the right consistency to keep the eyes moist. So, you don't have enough tears to protect the surface of your eyes and clean the dust and dirt. So the eyes can start to feel itching and stunting.

This is where caffeine can help. Two small studies, cited from WebMD, Wednesday, February 19, found that caffeine appears to increase the amount of tears in the eyes. In one study from Japan, researchers divided 78 people into two groups. One group got capsules with up to 200 mg to 600 mg of caffeine, depending on the person's weight.

This amount is roughly the same as 2 to 6 cups of coffee. Other groups receive placebo capsules or empty drugs that do not contain active substances, but can have a pseudo effect on their users. From the results of the study found that people who received caffeine capsules produced more tears compared to placebo capsules.

A smaller research than Ghana has similar results, which show an increase in tear production from caffeine. The research is in line with previous studies that show people who use caffeine have a lower dry eye rate than people who don't.

So, can caffeine be the only dry eye medicine? Not always, experts say. Although promising, the research is still limited. For now, ophthalmologists don't know enough about caffeine side effects if used as formal medicine. Keep in mind that caffeine can affect health in other ways, such as causing more anxiety, high blood pressure, and difficulty sleeping.

So, if you've never had caffeinated drinks, dry eyes are not a good reason to start. On the other hand, if you've started the day with coffee or tea, there's no reason to quit. You can try adjusting the amount you're drinking to see if it makes a difference to your symptoms.

Experts say that up to 400 mg of caffeine a day or the equivalent of 4 cups of coffee is still safe for most people. Even so, you still need to balance your body by drinking water to prevent dehydration.

If the dry eyes experienced do not heal, please go to the eye doctor. Common dry eye conditions occur with various causes, especially when you get older. Some people may require changes in treatment, treatment with a doctor's prescription, or other procedures to relieve it.