The Reason You Should be Embracing Dry January for Your Dry Eye Disease  

When it comes to Dry Eye Disease, many people suffer from the condition but don’t know how to alleviate the symptoms. 

You don’t need to suffer in silence. There are many things you can do to avoid the tired, itchy feeling – including lifestyle changes. 

While eye drops and dedication can help improve the symptoms of the condition and repair damage to the eyes that can aggravate Dry Eye Disease, lifestyle changes can help you avoid triggers that cause your discomfort.  

One of the largest triggers of many conditions that you might not consider is alcohol. Alcohol has been linked to the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease and there’s evidence that a reduction of your alcohol consumption can actually help reduce symptoms of dry eye.  

This January, like the last few years, a national campaign in the UK is taking place to help reduce drinking and aid people in quitting for good.  

Here’s why you should consider taking on Dry January for your Dry Eye Disease.  

 

What is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry Eye Disease is a condition in which the healthy tear film of your eyes becomes disrupted and damaged, causing symptoms such as:  

• Itching  
• Burning 
• A feeling of grit or sand in your eye  
• Excessive tear production  
• Blurred vision  
• Sensitivity to light  
• And many others[1]

 

It occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly.[2] When you don’t have adequate hydrating tears the eyelid scrapes over the desiccated surface instead of gliding over the smooth film of tears, causing irritation and discomfort.[3] It also risks damaging your eyes permanently.  

There are different forms of Dry Eye Disease including Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye where your eyes don’t produce enough tears, Evaporative Dry Eye where your tears evaporate too quickly, and Mixed Dry Eye where patients suffer from both.[4] 

There’s no definite cause of Dry Eye as it can be a symptom of many other illnesses, a side effect of medication, or can be related to environmental or lifestyle changes. However, it is very common with up to 32.1% of the UK population reporting the condition.[5]  

How Does Alcohol Affect Dry Eye?

Drinking alcohol has many effects on your body. Studies show a high correlation between alcohol use and symptomatic Dry Eye, especially in females.[6]  It can stimulate your appetite, widen blood vessels, impact your behaviour and brain function, and increase urine production.[7] This is part of the reason you can become thirsty and dehydrated when you consume alcohol.  

A lack of hydration has been linked to Dry Eye Disease with experts suggesting increased water intake for sufferers of Dry Eye Disease as drinking more water can help you produce a healthy volume of tears and ensure healthy lacrimal glands.[8]

Furthermore, alcohol use has been linked to premature ageing. Ageing has been known as a factor in the development of Dry Eye Disease and other eye conditions such as cataract formation and macular degeneration.[9]  

Alcohol intake can also increase the sugar level in your blood, causing your eye lenses to swell and resulting in blurring vision, itchy and irritated eyes.[10] While your blood sugar levels will revert within 24 hours of drinking, the symptoms of Dry Eyes may not fade until a week after your alcohol intake.  

 

What is Dry January?

Dry January was founded by Alcohol Change UK in an effort to aid the UK population to give up or reduce their intake of alcohol for the entire month of January.[11]

There’s a variety of reasons people may choose to partake in the campaign – with 86% of participants saving money and 70% of participants claiming they experienced better sleep.[12]  

Joining Dry January and committing to not drinking for the month can drastically improve your Dry Eye symptoms in the long run and help you build better habits for your overall eye health.  

Damp January  

If completely abstaining from alcohol for January seems like too big of a challenge or you’re not ready to commit to such a drastic change, you can consider attempting damp January instead. It follows a more moderate approach to drinking, allowing the occasionally mindfully chosen drink.[13] In combination with extra hydration and other lifestyle changes, you should be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage without triggering intense Dry Eye symptoms.  

How to Tackle Dry Eye Symptoms  

Alongside reducing alcohol consumption, there are many things you can do to reduce the severity of your symptoms and fight your Dry Eye Disease. 
 

• Getting enough sleep (around 7 to 8 hours a night is recommended). 

• Limiting screen time and taking breaks from screens. Using the 20:20:20 rule is ideal, especially when you work in an office.  

• Avoid smoke, wind, and air conditioning.  

• Speaking to your doctor about prescription medicines that can help deal with serious Dry Eye Disease.  

• Implement a three-step daily routine to keep your eyes clean, hydrated, and cared for with products like Naviblef® Daily Care.  

• Soothe irritation, pain, and burning with eye drops like VisuXL® 

 

If you’d like to find more Dry Eye treatment options, explore VISUshop now.  

While Dry Eye Disease can be uncomfortable, you’re not alone and you don’t have to suffer in silence. Get the help you need today and try Dry January.  

 

References

1. NHS, ‘Dry Eyes’, Last Accessed December 2024
2. The Clinic, ‘Surviving ‘Dry January’: How to Combat Dry Eyes in Winter’, Last Accessed December 2024
3. Smith-Jaynes, Ceri, ‘Dry January?’, Last Accessed December 2024
4. Cleveland Clinic, ‘Dry Eye’, Last Accessed December 2024
5. Casemor, Rachel K, Wolffsohn, James.S, Dutta, Debarun, ‘Dry Eye Clinical Practice Patterns of UK Optometrists’, 09/05/2023, Last Accessed December 2024
6. Magno, Morten Schjerven, et al, ‘The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Dry Eye’ 16/03/2021, Last Accessed December 2024
7. Nidirect, ‘What happens When You Drink Alcohol’, Last Accessed December 2024
8. Healthline, ‘Ask the Expert: Dehydration and Dry Eye’, Last Accessed December 2024
9. Complete Family Eyecare, ‘Dry January – Alcohol and Your Vision’, 18/01/2024, Last Accessed December 2024
10. Dry Eye and Me ‘Is Drinking Alcohol Bad For Your Eyes?’, Last Accessed December 2024
11. How Dry January Affects Your Eye Health’, 05/01/2018, Last Accessed February 2025
12. Alcohol Change UK, ‘Dry January’, Last Accessed December 2024 
13. Filson, Mackenzie, ‘Can’t Commit To Dry January? Try Damp January’, 06/01/2023, Last Accessed December 2024

Is Drinking Alcohol Bad For Your Eyes?

As well as impacting your overall health, drinking alcohol can affect our eyes.[1] In this blog, we’ll be exploring how drinking alcohol is bad for your Dry Eye Syndrome, and what you can do about it.

 

What are the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome?

Did you know drinking alcohol is linked to dry eyes?[2] Symptoms of Dry Eye can include dry, itchy, gritty, sore and watery eyes, as well as sensitivity to light and blurred vision.[3] For more information on the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome, click here: Symptoms of Dry Eye

Can drinking alcohol affect your eyes?

Yes! Alcohol is known to dehydrate the body and have a negative effect on brain function, plus overall health.[1] But, it can also have a negative effect on our eyes. For people who already suffer from chronic Dry Eye Syndrome, drinking alcohol can increase the risk of symptoms worsening.

 

 

Can drinking alcohol cause dry eyes?

Alcohol dehydrates the eyes and makes it even harder for the body to produce enough tears.[4] Repeated consumption can also make it harder to absorb vitamins and maintain a healthy digestion, which can limit how effectively your body regenerates the tissue in your eyes, exacerbating Dry Eye.[5]

 

Why does alcohol bring on Dry Eye symptoms?

Alcohol increases the sugar level in your blood, which causes the lenses of your eyes to swell, and often results in blurry vision and itchy, irritated eyes.[6] This is why you may have noticed the feeling of dry itchy eyes, or even burning eyes, after drinking alcohol.

 

 

Why do I get blurry vision after drinking alcohol?

As well as causing dry eyes, alcohol can also affect your eye sight. Alcohol can make your eyes red and bloodshot, as well as causing blurry vision. Long term, alcohol can even cause optic nerve damage and blindness.[7]

 

Can you reverse eye damage from alcohol?

After 24 hours without drinking alcohol, your blood sugar levels should go back to normal. This means that any impact alcohol has had on your eyes should also normalise. Over the following seven days, your body will rehydrate and Dry Eye symptoms, like itchy eyes, will fade.[6]

If you already suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome, lifestyle changes like reducing your alcohol intake can help manage your condition. For more lifestyle tips for dry eyes, visit our blog: 6 Lifestyle Tips to Help Dry Eye

 

How do you prevent dry eyes when drinking?

According to DrinkAware, you should have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks. This can help keep your dry eyes more hydrated and minimise health risks. It’s best to also limit the amount of alcohol that you drink.[8]

 

 

What can you do to minimise symptoms of alcohol related Dry Eye?

You can combat the effects of alcohol on dry eyes! It’s never too late to take action. Follow these tips to minimise symptoms of alcohol related dry eyes:

 

Reduce your alcohol intake

Reducing the amount that you drink can help to improve your health. When we stop consuming alcohol, our eyes have time to strengthen and protect against macular degeneration, which is a type of eye deterioration common in people over 50 that can result in blurred vision and Dry Eye Syndrome. This is because the body is more hydrated and has better blood flow to the vital organs.[9] Even drinking only on the weekends is a great start to protect your eyes.

 

 

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water is something we all need to try and do, especially because it helps keep your eyes hydrated and protected against Dry Eye Syndrome. Experts recommend between 8-10 glasses a day if you already suffer from dry, itchy eyes.[10]

 

 

Reduce your screen time

Spending less time staring at a phone, tablet, or laptop (whilst sometimes difficult) is another great choice that helps your eyes recover from alcohol damage.[11] The 20:20:20 rule, where you look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, is a simple, effective way to cut down on screen time.[12] Take a look at this blog for more information on it.

Staring at screens frequently can lead to Computer Vision Syndrome, another cause of Dry Eye.[13] Read more about the impact of screens on your eyes here: What is Computer Vision Syndrome?

 

 

Maintain a healthy diet, packed full of vitamins

There are various vitamins that you can make part of a balanced diet to improve your eye health. These include Vitamin C and Omega 3, which can help reduce eye fatigue and chronic Dry Eye symptoms.[14] Check out our blog to read more about Dry Eye and vitamins: 6 Vitamins for Dry Eyes

 

 

Stop smoking

Did you know that smoking is 75% more common in people that drink alcohol?[15] It can be tempting to have a cigarette when out in a smoking area, or sitting in a beer garden. However, smoking could also increase your risk of dry eyes.[16] To find out more about the effects of smoking on your eyes, visit our blog: Smoking and Dry Eye

 

 

Follow a three-step treatment plan

A three-step treatment plan is a great way to effectively manage your Dry Eye.

Step 1: If you are suffering from Evaporative Dry Eye or Meibomian Gland Disorder, a heated compress – such as Meibopatch ® – can help to unblock your meibomian glands and relieve your eyes.[17]

Step 2: Cleanse and wipe away the melted oil blocking your glands, as well as any built-up debris, with a cleanser like Naviblef ®, which is specially designed to reduce discomfort.[18]

Step 3: Incorporate an effective lubricant such as any drop from the VISUFarma range. Depending on your condition, you can choose an eye drop that will help ease your symptoms.

 

 

For more resources on how alcohol can affect your health, or for help reducing your alcohol intake, you can visit the NHS website: NHS Alcohol Support.

Read more about the causes of dry eyes here: 6 Causes of Dry Eye

 

In most cases, the best way to treat dry eyes, Also known as dry eye syndrome, is to use eye gel or eye drops.

VisuXL Gel^® is a preservative-free smart gel lubricant for dry eye syndrome. It provides comfort in a bottle with it’s long-lasting lubrication properties giving 12-hour dosing with just one drop and is suitable for both day and night use.

VisuXL^® is a preservative-free eye drop lubricant for dry eye syndrome. Due to its unique ingredients, VisuXL^® will help you recover from eye surgery, an injury or persistent damaging dry eye.

VisuEvo^® is a preservative-free eye drop that prevents excessive evaporation of the tear film. Its unique formula contains omega-3 essential fatty acids, Vitamins A and D and ultra-filtered phospholipids that facilitate tear film presentation and control evaporation.

All three products are contact lens-friendly and can be used for 180 days after opening.

Shop now

 

References

1. Pietrangelo, A. Raypole. ‘What are the Effects of Alcohol on the body?’, 06/06/22. Accessed December 2021.
2. How Dry January Affects Your Eye Health’, 05/01/2018, Last Accessed February 2025
3. NHS, ‘Dry Eyes’, Healthline, 01/04/2020. Accessed May 2022.
4. You, Young-Sheng, Qu, Nai-Bin, Yu, Xiao-Ning, ‘Alcohol consumption and dry eye syndrome: a Meta-analysis’, International Journal of Ophthalmology, 2016; 9(10): 1487–1492. Accessed December 2021.
5. Pfitscher, S. ‘The Effects of Alcohol on Your Vision’, Lenstore Vision Hub, 13/02/21. Accessed Dec 2021.
6. Optometrists’ Clinic Inc., ‘How Alcohol; Affects Your Vision and Eye Health’, 17/02/2023, Last Accessed February 2025
7. Complete Eye Care, ‘Potential Alcohol Effects on Vision & Eye Health’, 08/07/22. Accessed March 2023.
8. DrinkAware, ‘Binge drinking’. Accessed March 2023.
9. Jacci, ‘10 Negative Effects Alcohol Has on the Eyes’, Ultralase, 30/12/19. Accessed Dec 2021.
10. Complete Eye Care, ‘How Does Hydration Affect My Eyes’. Accessed September 2021.
11. Wheeler, Regina Boyle, ‘Dry Eye and Screen Use’, WebMD, 21/06/21. Accessed October 2021.
12. Marcin, A. ‘How Does the 20-20-20 Rule Prevent Eye Strain?’, Healthline. Accessed May 2022.
13. Watson, S. ‘What Is Computer Vision Syndrome’, WebMD. Accessed May 2022.
14. Porter, D.Gregori, Ninel, Z. ‘Diet and Nutrition’, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 11/20. Accessed Sep 2021.
15. Shiffman, S. Balabanis, M. ‘Do Drinking and Smoking Go Together?’, Alcohol Health Res World, 1996; 20(2): 107–110. Accessed March 2023.
16. Li Xu, Wei Zhang, Xiao-Yu Zhu, Tao Suo, Xian-Qun Fan, and Yao Fu, ‘Smoking and the Risk of Dry Eye: a Meta-Analysis’, Int J Ophthalmol. 2016; 9(10): 1480–1486. Accessed March 2023.
17. MeiboPatch® Instructions for Use (IFU). Accessed April 2022.
18. Naviblef ® Instructions for Use (IFU), Accessed April 2022.