Your dry eyes could be caused by reflux from your stomach
By naturopath Margaret Jasinska
Do you know that dry eyes could be caused by reflux of stomach contents into your eyes?
Reflux of the stomach enzyme pepsin can travel up the tear ducts, causing inflammation and dry eyes. This occurs because pepsin is a protein-digesting enzyme. It doesn’t belong on the surface of your eyeballs. It can be very irritating, causing damage, redness, and the sensation of a foreign body in the eyes. Treating the reflux can prevent eye dryness and irritation.
Silent reflux
Not all cases of reflux cause obvious symptoms like regurgitation of food or heartburn. Silent reflux is also known as laryngopharyngeal reflux. It can cause the following symptoms:
- Throat discomfort: Frequent clearing of the throat, sore throat, or a burning sensation in the throat.
- Changes in voice: Hoarse, raspy voice, or voice weakness.
- Sensation of a Lump or something is stuck in your throat.
- Respiratory problems: Chronic dry cough, wheezing, or asthma type symptoms.
- Excess phlegm in the throat, especially first thing in the morning.
- A bitter or sour taste in the mouth.
- Eye irritation or dryness
If you think you may be suffering from reflux, please see a gastroenterologist for a proper diagnosis.
Natural remedies to treat and prevent reflux
Your stomach produces a lot of hydrochloric acid during eating and for good reason, because without it, you cannot digest proteins efficiently and you will not absorb calcium and other minerals from foods. There is a circular muscle around the lower oesophagus, which divides it from the stomach, and this normally remains contracted to prevent back flow of stomach acid. During swallowing, this muscle normally relaxes, allowing food to pass from the oesophagus into the stomach, after which it should remain contracted.
If you are overweight and/or have a fatty liver, this will cause too much pressure on the stomach, and reflux becomes worse. If you eat a lot of sugar or refined carbohydrates, or you have problems digesting FODMAPs, you may develop small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Gases the microbes produce can travel up into the stomach, raising the pressure inside and promoting reflux. Food intolerance can also increase gas production in the gut.
In some people with reflux there is a hernia (protrusion) of the upper part of the stomach through the diaphragm into the lower chest. This is called a hiatus hernia and can be hereditary and is more common with age and in those who are overweight. A hiatus hernia will often disturb the function of the circular muscle around the lower oesophagus. This increases reflux and heartburn symptoms. These symptoms are much worse after eating a large meal and while bending over.
Traditional medications prescribed for reflux include cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, rantidine and omeprazole. These medications should not be relied upon long term because they can have undesirable side effects.
You may find the following tips helpful:
- Try to lose weight with a low carbohydrate diet if overweight.
- Glutamine is incredibly soothing to the lining of the digestive tract and can reduce irritation from stomach acid and pepsin. Taking a glutamine supplement between meals and after meals can help to manage reflux and heartburn. The Dr Cabot Ultimate Gut Health powder is high in glutamine, with added benefits of slippery elm, pectin, chia and the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii. Alternatively, pure glutamine powder can be taken on its own, between meals and after meals, to manage reflux symptoms.
- Avoid excessively large meals, especially in the evening.
- Do not drink too much with meals.
- Avoid or minimise coffee, alcohol, cigarettes and any foods that aggravate your digestive system. Some people may need to also avoid spicy foods.
- The majority of people with reflux have a food intolerance which is behind their symptoms. Common culprits include cow’s milk and gluten (found in wheat, rye, and barley). A dairy free and grain free diet helps the majority of reflux sufferers. They usually also suffer with fermentation in their gut. Too much gas is produced in their intestines. A low FODMAP diet can help, along with reducing levels of harmful bacteria and yeast in the gut.
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