Dry eyes are a really common problem that affects millions of people. Scientists think inflammation and damage from harmful molecules called free radicals play a big role in causing dry eyes. A team of researchers looked at all the studies done on supplements and nutrients that might help dry eyes. They found that several types of supplements—especially omega fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals—showed promise in helping people with dry eyes feel better. However, the researchers say we need more studies to figure out the best doses and how these supplements work best with regular eye treatments.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether dietary supplements and nutrients can help reduce dry eye symptoms and improve eye surface health
- Who participated: This was a review of many different studies on dry eye disease and supplements. The researchers looked at all published research up to July 2025 that tested supplements in people with dry eyes.
- Key finding: Several types of supplements appear to help with dry eyes, with omega fatty acids being the most thoroughly tested and showing the strongest evidence. Vitamins, minerals, plant-based compounds, and probiotics also showed positive effects in clinical studies.
- What it means for you: If you have dry eyes, certain supplements may help, especially omega fatty acids. However, you should talk to your eye doctor before starting any supplement, and if you take supplements long-term, you’ll need regular blood tests to make sure they’re safe for you.
The Research Details
This was a systematic review, which means researchers searched through all published scientific studies about supplements and dry eyes. They looked at studies published in English up until July 2025 and found research on six main types of supplements: omega fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, plant-based substances, and probiotics.
The researchers used PubMed, which is a huge database of medical research, to find all the relevant studies. They looked at studies that measured whether supplements actually helped people with dry eyes, either by measuring specific improvements or by describing what happened to patients.
This approach is valuable because instead of just looking at one study, the researchers could see patterns across many different studies and understand which supplements had the most evidence supporting them.
A systematic review is important because it gives us the big picture. Instead of relying on one study that might have been done differently than others, this approach looks at all the available evidence together. This helps doctors and patients understand which supplements are most likely to actually work, based on real scientific evidence.
This review is a high-quality type of research because it systematically searched for and analyzed many studies rather than just picking a few. The researchers focused on studies that measured actual results, which is more reliable than just opinions. However, the quality depends on the individual studies they reviewed—some studies were stronger than others. The fact that omega fatty acids had the most randomized controlled trials (the gold standard of research) means we can be more confident about those results than about supplements with fewer studies.
What the Results Show
The review found that omega fatty acids (also called omega-3 and omega-6) are the most well-studied supplements for dry eyes, with the strongest scientific evidence. These fatty acids appear to reduce inflammation and help stabilize the tear film that protects your eyes.
Vitamins, particularly vitamins A, D, and E, also showed positive effects in multiple studies. These vitamins work as antioxidants, meaning they help protect eye cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.
Minerals like zinc and selenium, along with plant-based compounds found in foods like green tea and turmeric, also demonstrated benefits for dry eye symptoms. Additionally, some studies showed that probiotics (beneficial bacteria) may help reduce inflammation and improve eye surface health.
The researchers emphasized that while these supplements showed promise, the studies used different doses and measured results in different ways, making it hard to say exactly how much of each supplement works best.
The review noted that many of these supplements work by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress—two key problems in dry eye disease. When your eye surface is stressed, it releases harmful molecules that cause inflammation, which then creates more harmful molecules in a damaging cycle. Supplements appear to help break this cycle. The researchers also found that some supplements might work better when combined with standard dry eye treatments, though more research is needed to confirm this.
This review builds on previous research by bringing together all the recent evidence in one place. Earlier studies suggested that nutrition might help with dry eyes, but this comprehensive review confirms that multiple types of supplements have scientific support. The focus on omega fatty acids aligns with previous research, but this review also highlights the importance of other nutrients that hadn’t been as thoroughly studied before.
The main limitation is that the individual studies reviewed used different supplements, different doses, and measured results in different ways, making it hard to compare them directly. The review doesn’t tell us the exact best dose for any supplement. Additionally, many studies were small, and some supplements haven’t been studied as much as others. The researchers couldn’t determine which supplements work best for which specific types of dry eyes, and they noted that long-term safety data is limited for some supplements.
The Bottom Line
If you have dry eyes, omega fatty acids (fish oil or algae-based supplements) are worth discussing with your eye doctor, as they have the strongest evidence (high confidence). Vitamins A, D, and E, along with minerals like zinc, also show promise (moderate confidence). Plant-based supplements like green tea extract may help (moderate confidence). Start with one supplement at a time so you can tell if it’s actually helping. If you plan to take supplements long-term, get regular blood tests to ensure they’re safe for you.
Anyone with dry eyes should know about these options. This is especially relevant for people who have tried standard dry eye treatments and want additional help, or for people who prefer natural approaches. However, people with certain health conditions, those taking blood thinners, or people with allergies to fish should talk to their doctor first. Pregnant women should also check with their doctor before starting supplements.
Most studies showed improvements within 4-12 weeks of taking supplements regularly. However, some people might notice benefits sooner, and others might need longer. Consistency matters—taking supplements sporadically is less likely to help than taking them daily as directed.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily supplement intake and dry eye symptoms using a simple scale (1-10 for dryness, grittiness, and redness) three times weekly. Note which supplements you’re taking and at what dose to identify which ones help you most.
- Start by adding one supplement at a time (such as omega-3 fish oil) and take it consistently every day with food. Set a daily reminder on your phone to take it at the same time each day. After 6-8 weeks, evaluate whether your dry eye symptoms have improved before adding another supplement.
- Create a weekly log tracking: (1) which supplements taken and doses, (2) dry eye symptom severity, (3) any side effects noticed, and (4) any changes in vision or comfort. Share this log with your eye doctor at regular visits to help them understand what’s working for you and whether blood tests are needed.
This review summarizes research on supplements for dry eyes but is not medical advice. Dry eye disease has many causes and requires proper diagnosis by an eye care professional. Before starting any supplement, especially if you take medications, have health conditions, or are pregnant or nursing, consult your eye doctor or healthcare provider. Some supplements can interact with medications or cause side effects. Long-term supplement use requires monitoring through blood tests. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical evaluation and treatment.