It’s no secret that drinking plenty of water is crucial for a body to perform its best. Not only should it be noted that there are numerous benefits to drinking the daily recommended amount of water, but it’s also important to realize that not drinking enough can lead to several different types of health complications. One organ, in particular, that relies heavily on hydration is the eye. Many people don’t realize the significant role that water plays in ocular health and fail to make the connection between their fluid consumption and any eye troubles they may have.
How Water Intake Impacts Your Eyes
Your eyes can only function correctly if they have plenty of fluid to keep them hydrated. When you don’t give them the water they need, your eyes may have trouble doing something even as simple as blinking. Without moisture, your eyes can become extremely fatigued and a serious source of discomfort.
Eye Problems That Can Arise from Dehydration
Dehydration makes it difficult for your eyes to produce the tears they need to stay properly lubricated. When this happens, dry eye, eye strain, and vision problems can develop. It’s normal for dirt, dust, and other debris that’s in the air to find its way into your eyes, but if there is a reduction in tear production, there will be nothing there to flush the foreign matter out. This will leave your eyes feeling irritated and likely cause blurry vision. In addition, it can lead to painful eye infections.
How to Know If You’re Drinking Enough
Dry eye is a common complaint among eye patients during their optometrist appointments. One of the first things a doctor will ask is if they are getting plenty of fluids. It should become a goal to drink at least eight glasses of water a day or more if temperatures are hot or you consume caffeinated beverages. Though eye drops may help to alleviate symptoms of dry, irritated eyes temporarily, there is no substitute for rehydrating with water. There are also many foods you can introduce into your diet that have a high percentage of water content.
This post originally appeared on Dr Rosa Optometry