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Why Persistent Eye Dryness, Irritation, and Grittiness May Signal a Deeper Vitamin A Imbalance
Dry eyes are commonly blamed on excessive screen time, air conditioning, contact lenses, or aging. While these factors can worsen symptoms, they are not always the root cause.
For many people, persistent dry eyes signal an internal issue — particularly inadequate vitamin A availability to the eye tissues.
Vitamin A plays a critical role in maintaining the moisture, integrity, and immune protection of the eye surface. When levels are low, dryness and irritation often follow.
Symptoms may worsen at night, in air-conditioned environments, or after prolonged visual focus.
Screens reduce blink rate, which can worsen dryness — but they do not usually cause persistent dry eye on their own.
When the eye surface lacks adequate nutritional support, tears evaporate faster and inflammation increases, making dryness chronic rather than situational.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for vision, immune defense, and epithelial (surface tissue) health.
It is required for:
The surface of the eye is lined with delicate epithelial cells that must remain smooth, moist, and intact.
Vitamin A supports the differentiation and repair of these cells.
When vitamin A is insufficient:
Tears are not just water — they are a complex mixture of water, oils, and mucus.
Vitamin A is essential for producing the mucus component that allows tears to spread evenly across the eye.
Without this layer:
Vitamin A is also required for rhodopsin, a pigment used in low-light vision.
Early deficiency may cause:
These symptoms may appear alongside dry eyes.
Severe vitamin A deficiency is associated with serious eye disease, but mild or functional deficiency is far more common.
In these cases:
Vitamin A is fat-soluble and requires proper digestion for absorption.
Deficiency may occur despite adequate intake due to:
Vitamin A deficiency is frequently overlooked because:
Eye drops may relieve symptoms temporarily but do not address the underlying cause.
Q: Can dry eyes really be caused by vitamin A deficiency?
A: Yes. Vitamin A is essential for tear film stability and eye surface integrity.
Q: Why do eye drops help only temporarily?
A: Drops add moisture but do not correct underlying tissue deficiency.
Q: Can I have deficiency with normal blood tests?
A: Yes. Functional deficiency can exist despite normal lab ranges.
Q: Should I take vitamin A supplements?
A: Supplementation should be guided, as excess vitamin A can be harmful.
Dry eyes are not always caused by screens, aging, or environmental dryness. In many cases, they reflect insufficient nutritional support — particularly vitamin A.
By addressing vitamin A intake, absorption, and overall tissue health, long-term relief is often possible without relying solely on artificial tears.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for persistent dry eyes or before starting vitamin A supplementation.
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