Dry Eyes and Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment – Healthline

There are several eye concerns linked to diabetes, one of which is dry eyes.
This might sound like a minor inconvenience, but chronic dry eyes, also known as dry eye syndrome or dry eye disease, can lead to permanent eye damage and vision loss if it’s not treated.
This article will look at the connection between dry eyes and diabetes, the symptoms, treatment, and what you can do to take care of dry eye issues.
Dry eye syndrome is a common complication of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It happens because of high blood sugars.
When your blood sugar is high, it can cause nerve damage in your eyes which, in turn, can lead to decreased tear production.
Additionally, high blood sugar can cause inflammation throughout your body. This inflammation makes it harder for your lacrimal glands — the glands in your eyes that produce tears — to function.
Over time, if left untreated, dry eye may lead to:
Fortunately, managing your blood sugar and keeping it within a healthy range can lower your risk of dry eye syndrome.
Eye drops and other treatments can also help relieve dry eye symptoms and prevent complications while you work with a healthcare professional to manage your diabetes.
Your eyes produce tears constantly throughout the day. Dry eye happens when your eyes do not have the tears they need to stay moisturized and healthy.
Your eyes cannot function properly without healthy tear production. When your eyes do not produce enough tears, it can cause eye irritation and a variety of other eye symptoms, such as:
Sometimes, dry eye can be a temporary condition that goes away on its own. This can be the case when dry eye syndrome is not caused by diabetes. For instance, your eyes may be dry because you spent time in a very dry or windy environment, or because you wore your contact lenses for too long.
However, dry eyes caused by diabetes — or another underlying health issue — will need to be addressed by a medical professional.
It’s a good idea to see a healthcare professional if you experience dry eye symptoms that do not clear up after a couple of days.
The treatment for dry eyes will depend on how severe your symptoms are and on your overall diabetes management plan.
Many people with dry eyes caused by diabetes find that managing their blood sugar levels can help resolve dry eye symptoms.
Your healthcare professional might recommend that you use artificial tears while you work to get your blood sugar levels to a well-managed place. They might also prescribe eye drops or advise you to purchase a specific over-the-counter product that can help lubricate your eyes.
Other treatment options for dry eye syndrome might include:
If you’re waiting to see a doctor for your dry eye condition, there are some steps you can take on your own to help ease your dry eye symptoms. For instance, you may want to:
High blood sugar levels can affect your eyes and cause damage to your vision. Besides dry eye, diabetes can lead to several different other eye issues, such as:
Diabetes is a common cause of dry eye, but it’s not the only possible cause. There are several reasons your eyes might be dry.
Other common causes of dry eye symptoms include:
High blood sugar can make it hard for your eyes to produce enough tears. This can lead to chronic dry eye if you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
The best way to resolve dry eye caused by diabetes is to work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that keeps your blood sugar levels well managed. Artificial tears and prescription eye drops can help relieve symptoms while you work with your healthcare professional to control your diabetes.
Talk with your doctor — or another healthcare professional — if you develop dry eye symptoms that last for more than a couple of days. Chronic dry eye that’s caused by diabetes, or by another health condition, can cause eye damage and even vision loss if it’s not treated.
People who have diabetes should see their ophthalmologist at least once per year. Regular eye exams are important for protecting your eye health.
Last medically reviewed on January 14, 2022
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version
Jan 14, 2022
Edited By
Claire Brocato
Medically Reviewed By
Kelly Wood, MD
Copy Edited By
Delores Smith-Johnson
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