Caffeine and dry eyes

For many of us, caffeine is the stuff of life. It's helpful for things like getting going in the morning, staying alert for a long drive, and being a functional human being. With the good, however, comes potential adverse side effects like anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, and... dry eyes?  

Because caffeine is a diuretic (a fancy word for something that makes you urinate), some people think that it causes dry eyes. But a few small studies have indicated that caffeine may actually help with dry eyes. So, what are we to believe about our favorite stimulant? Does caffeine cause dry eyes or help with them? And do we have an excuse to drink more caffeine if it does help? Let's get to the bottom of this. 

Can caffeine cause dry eyes? 

Happily, caffeine probably doesn't cause dry eyes. You could have other reasons to reduce your caffeine intake, but fear of dry eyes shouldn't be one of them. An ophthalmologist named Bala Ambati does say in this article that excessive caffeine can cause blepharitis, which is inflammation of the eyelids. But most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams a day, so you should be okay if you cut yourself off after that third or fourth cup of coffee. 

Can caffeine help dry eyes? 

Our sources say maybe. Some small studies (here's a link to one) have tested the effect of caffeine on the eyes. According to these studies, caffeine might lubricate the eyes by boosting tear production. We don't know anything for sure, though, until larger studies are done that represent the general population. Because of the uncertainty, experts and doctors typically don't recommend caffeine as a formal treatment for dry eyes. 

Do we have an excuse to drink more caffeine? 

We'd love that, wouldn't we? Here's what WebMD has to say about it:  

"If you don't already sip caffeinated drinks, having dry eyes is not a good reason to start. On the other hand, if you already start of the day with coffee or tea, there's no reason to stop. You can try to adjust the amount you drink to see if it makes a difference in your symptoms." 

Do with that what you will. To us, it sounds like permission from a real-life online doctor to drink more caffeine. 

There are, of course, more-proven ways to relieve dry eyes, like limiting screen time, using eye drops, and avoiding Avril Lavigne-level eye makeup. Check out this blog post for more about what causes dry eyes and how to fix them.