Dehydration is nothing but a lack of enough water in the body. Water is the most important element of the body; it is needed for the functioning of various organs. When the body does not receive enough fluid, these organs suffer, including the eyes.
Dehydration is by definition a lack of water. When more water is released from the body than goes into it, there is a risk of dehydration; this usually happens when you stop drinking water or lose a lot of fluids. Fluid loss occurs during daily body activities, such as sweating, urination, and bowel movements. Extreme fever, vomiting, diarrhea, alcohol, and even diabetes increase the risk of dehydration.
Can Dehydration Affect Your Eye?
A healthy body’s initial response to a loss of fluid is to retain the remaining fluid. Various symptoms of dehydration are caused including thirst, muscle cramps, dry mouth, decreased urine output, headache, sleepiness, dizziness, and lack of tearing. Dry eyes, eye strain, and vision problems are mainly caused when the eyes stop watering, hence, they stop blurring properly.
Dry eye
A dry eye occurs when there are not enough tears to nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for clear vision: they remove foreign objects from the eye and also help reduce the risk of an eye infection. Symptoms of dry eye include irritation, excessive tearing, blurred vision, and a feeling that there are foreign objects in the eye. Drinking plenty of water is the best solution to escape dry eyes. Eye drops can also help by moisturizing the eye and removing foreign objects.
Can lenses make eyes dry?
Because your contact lenses depend on the natural moisture in your eyes to keep them hydrated and comfortable throughout the day, when your eyes become dehydrated, they begin to dry out.
It’s also important to note that while lenses with high water content contain a lot of oxygen, they may not be suitable for people with dry eyes because they are thicker. The best lenses for dry eyes are low-medium water lenses.
Can dehydration cause blurred vision?
Dehydration and vision problems are often closely related. This is because dehydration puts pressure on the eyes, which in turn can lead to blurred vision and blurred vision headaches. Tired eyes are also a symptom of eye fatigue, which can lead to vision problems. You can strain your eyes if you spend too much time in front of a screen, as you tend to blink less during the process. Producing tears when you blink helps keep your eyes lubricated and hydrated. For this reason, it may make sense to use eye drops.
Eye fatigue
If the eye is not properly lubricated, symptoms of eye strain can occur such as tired eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and double vision. Eye fatigue is also caused by excessive concentration on visual tasks or by using a digital device for a long period of time. If visual fatigue is a symptom of dehydration, you can also drink plenty of water; This will help remove salt from your body and properly hydrate your eyes. Resting the eye by blinking or closing it also helps relieve eyestrain.
Severe dehydration
Life-threatening conditions such as kidney stones, organ failure, shock, coma, and even death can be caused by severe dehydration. Symptoms of severe dehydration include feeling confused or lethargic, not urinating for 8 hours or more, heart palpitations, low blood pressure, weak pulse, inability to sweat, and sunken eyes. When you reach this point, your body is in dire need of fluids and electrolytes to heal. Staying hydrated will often reverse the situation and restore a person’s health. Severe dehydration can be life-threatening, so seek help immediately if you have any of these signs!
Dehydration can also cause floaters
Light-headedness is nothing but spots in your vision and is primarily due to age-related changes. However, dehydration can also be a cause. Eye floaters are when the gelatinous substance in your eye, called the vitreous, loses its shape. Since it is 98% water, dehydration can cause this phenomenon because the proteins coagulate instead of dissolving.
The only solution to prevent dehydration is to drink plenty of water every day. It is as simple as that. It is especially important to do this before, during, and after exercise to replenish water lost through sweat. Additional tips for preventing dehydration include reducing your consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and protein-rich foods as well as excess salt from your diet.
Lacey Arlo is a wellness expert and a nutritionist who aims to help members with health and diet queries. Lacey Arlo has worked with junior, national, and Olympic-level athletes by providing them with customizing programmers, supplement strategies, and support during their travel and competition. From weight management, PCOD, thyroid-related weight loss, and nutrition for children to diets for pregnant and diets for senior citizens, She offers nutrition-aided solutions for different age groups with consideration for each person’s unique health demands.