What evidence is there that gluten and dairy affect dry eye?

[DCRdryeye]

I had the food tests done. I was told to eat (expose myself to) a huge list of foods. Because I'm vegan, I did NOT eat meat. But my test results showed I had IgG and IgE antibodies to beef. I haven't eaten beef since 1982. That is just ONE of the reasons why I know these tests are bunk. The article that I linked is just an explanation by a doctor why these tests are bunk. But you can choose not to believe doctors or medical research.

I don't think you had the same test I'm referring too. This test doesn't tell you what to eat but rather tests your blood for about 100 different foods and it shows what anti-bodies are being formed to those foods. You are then given the results and told to avoid certain foods (not a lot, it goes from the most dangerous to weakest). You don't avoid them forever, but rather eat them every 4th day or so (especially the one's where you have a slight intolerance). My main strongest intolerance were plums, so I avoid prunes, etc. The 4th level which were the weakest, but still showed 'some' intolerance is a longer list and one of them for me were apples. Funnily enough, I don't like apples!! lol

[spmcc]

I don't think you had the same test I'm referring too. This test doesn't tell you what to eat but rather tests your blood for about 100 different foods and it shows what anti-bodies are being formed to those foods.

That's exactly the test I had.

But the paper from the link above says:

Recent position papers from European and U.S. allergy and immunology societies have also emphasized that tests looking at IgG or IgG4 antibodies are not appropriate for making a diagnosis of food allergy.

[DCRdryeye]

That's exactly the test I had.

But the paper from the link above says:

The paper or report you presented mentioned "allergies" didn't it. The IgG food panel tests for food 'intolerances' I've known many people to have successful outcomes using the IgG food panel test. Sorry it didn't work for you, but I'm asking everyone else not to let a journal detour you and if I didn't think it doesn't work I wouldn't use it on people. I've looked at hundreds of papers on this topic and the medical profession has a different paradigm to natural medicine, you can't compare the two by the same double placebo tests, etc.

I'm into natural medicine, if you're not that's fine. Let's stop the comparisons, it just becomes a ping pong match and serves no purpose.

[Faith1989]

I agree with DCRDRYEYE, and natural medicine does indeed work for a lot of people. I have tried pretty much everything most people on here have tried. (With the exception of lenses, which will be discussed next week with my specialist) Steriods work great for me, I almost feel cured when I use them..but nothing else has and when I stop the Steriods the inflammation comes back. Restasis is making my eyes look real bad.. Bright red all day after they are used and I've tried everything...so I don't think it's a good idea for me to continue unless one drop at night may be better than nothing?

I have been seeing a naturopath who tested the acid levels in my stomach and said they are insanely low.. She put me on all these supplements and a probiotic which I haven't tried and a sugar detox program. I am also using fortifeye fish oil and focus, theralife eye enhanced and vitamin C. Hopefully this does something.

Anyone have any luck with the whole repairing this "leaky gut"

[DCRdryeye]

I agree with DCRDRYEYE, and natural medicine does indeed work for a lot of people. I have tried pretty much everything most people on here have tried. (With the exception of lenses, which will be discussed next week with my specialist) Steriods work great for me, I almost feel cured when I use them..but nothing else has and when I stop the Steriods the inflammation comes back. Restasis is making my eyes look real bad.. Bright red all day after they are used and I've tried everything...so I don't think it's a good idea for me to continue unless one drop at night may be better than nothing?

I have been seeing a naturopath who tested the acid levels in my stomach and said they are insanely low.. She put me on all these supplements and a probiotic which I haven't tried and a sugar detox program. I am also using fortifeye fish oil and focus, theralife eye enhanced and vitamin C. Hopefully this does something.

Anyone have any luck with the whole repairing this "leaky gut"

Faith1989 - thanks so much for the support. I see so many people on here who say they've "tried everything" and give a long list of treatments they've tried, but not one treatment was a natural therapy. Then you look at the forum on NAC which has over 100 responses. NAC is a natural supplement.
You're naturopath is doing a wonderful job. MANY people have LOW stomach acid and thus it causes a host of problems (I can list them but it's too long). Probiotics are anti-inflammatory, and stress can mess with your microflora in the gut so a good idea to be on. Sugar, we are a nation of sugar consumers, "sugar addiction" - because it calms stress and improves mood for a short while. Give a kid an ice-cream and watch the smiles. Sugar also increases inflammation and cholesterol levels so best wean off it and keep it at a minimum. The other other nutrients you're taking all assist dry eye so glad to know you're on them. By the way, a top ophthalmologist in Australia suggested Vitamin C for dry eyes (research proves is has benefits for dry eyes).

Can Leaky Gut be repaired?, absolutely it can. Your naturopath should be able to assist you with that. But I can private you with the products (they may not be available where you reside), but I can certainly send you the nutrients and herbs that "close the gap" between the cells in Leaky Gut.

[Faith1989]

DCR, do you use any prescription drops? Anything that has helped??

[FizzyFi]

I have coeliac disease

I'm in my second year of diagnosed dry eye- and after a period over the summer where I was doing really well, I am currently almost right back where I started. I have come to understand (thanks to this amazing forum) that I shouldn't get too excited or worried either way, because it can fluctuate.. So for the moment I'm taking things month by month and trying out new stuff (eg. I've had Lipiflow and I'm going for MGD probing in a few weeks).

The thing is I am taking the same dose of medication as before- the only thing I have changed is that I have reintroduced wheat and dairy into my diet.
I had cut it out almost completely for some months when I was doing well. Now I eat it a few times per week.

None of my specialist ophthalmologists think that cutting out gluten and dairy affect dry eye... just that the best dietary change is to get lots of omega-3. They think I was doing better in the summer because of climate etc. and will probably fluctuate throughout the year. Another doctor just said my condition is simply progressing (I'm choosing to ignore this opinion right now, because I've heard it before and I improved...losing hope is losing the battle!).

I am considering cutting dairy and/or gluten out again- but would really like to read some conclusive clinical studies on whether it can affect meibomian glands or aqueous levels.. I can't seem to find anything other that subjective accounts...

I have Coeliac disease and gave up wheat and gluten 15 months ago and a year before that became intolerant to all dairy products and have only recently been diagnosed with dry eye. For this reason I would suggest that giving up wheat and dairy will probably not make any difference to dry eye.

I was told that mine was caused by my thyroid disease. Hope this helps someone as I would hate anyone to give up wheat, gluten and dairy if it wasn't necessary as it is not as easy as you think.

[bakunin]

I have Coeliac disease and gave up wheat and gluten 15 months ago and a year before that became intolerant to all dairy products and have only recently been diagnosed with dry eye. For this reason I would suggest that giving up wheat and dairy will probably not make any difference to dry eye.

I was told that mine was caused by my thyroid disease. Hope this helps someone as I would hate anyone to give up wheat, gluten and dairy if it wasn't necessary as it is not as easy as you think.

I'm 3 and a half months free of gluten and dairy (in fact I almost didn't eat dairy before). I'm eating more fruits and having a more natural diet, followaing a nutrionist diet. I dont know if it has helped my eyes. My eyes are better, I feel them less inflammaed. But it could be the season - summer. When the dry winter arrives I will be able to tell for sure.

Anyway, if it doesn't improve your eyes, it will probably improve your health in general. Gluten isn't good for anything, neither dairy, in my opinion. And if you want to lose weight, for sure you will with a gluten free diet.

[Faith1989]

If you think your eyes are less inflamed, they probably are. Apparantly it can take a long time to get inflammation down so if you are slowly improving its a good thing! FizzyFi, just because you didn't improve eating better, doesn't mean anyone else won't. LOTS of members on here have improved with changing their diet. It really depends the cause of the dry eye. Do you have visible inflammation in the eye? E.g. Redness?

[NotADryEye]

Anyone have any luck with the whole repairing this "leaky gut"[/QUOTE]

Yes. Tried HCL but could not find a dose that was low enough. Switched to Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, 1-2 tsp in 2 oz. warm water, before every meal, especially when eating protein. Huge difference in digestion. It takes a long time. 9 months. But it works.

[NotADryEye]

Re: HCL or apple cider vinegar - don't take these if you have a stomach ulcer. Check with your doctor first.

[Faith1989]

When you say it works, do you mean helps your stomach or your eyes??

[DCRdryeye]

DCR, do you use any prescription drops? Anything that has helped??

I've used preservative free prednisolone drops - did not help. I'm on Restasis again, not because it produces tears but is known to increase the "quality" of tears. But I've been having some success with "Testosterone cream". Apparently it's mostly beneficial for menopausal women because of low testosterone. Well, I have low Testosterone too and I'm male. I can go to the gym where they have ceiling fans without my moisture chambers for two hours now, whereas before I could not do without the glasses. But it was difficult to track down a doctor to prescribe it for me and he's had a few restrictions put on him recently. So just when something works, it's taken away so now it's doctor shopping to see who'll prescribe it.

[DCRdryeye]

When you say it works, do you mean helps your stomach or your eyes??

IF something helps the stomach it's going to benefit the entire body.

[Faith1989]

I have this love/hate relationship with Restasis. It helps with the dry eye pain (been on it for about two months, but have missed doses due to burning) but it makes my eyes look more red than they already are. It's beginning to take a toll on my self esteem. Without Restasis my eyes hurt more but are mostly white.. Ughh (I'm a girl clearly lol) I work in a really nice salon and its hard when I don't want to look people in the eye... Has it caused u redness? Or are your eyes not red?