Purpose: To report on the relationship between dietary intakes of a broad range of macronutrients and micro-nutrients, including antioxidants and fatty acids, with the presence of dry eye symptoms. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study of 1952 urban Sydney residents aged 60 years or greater. Participants completed a validated semi-quantitative145-item food frequency questionnaire and a dry eye questionnaire. Results: A total of 1528 responses were recorded (78.3) of which 902 (59.0) were female. 53.8 of participants reported at least one dry eye symptom, more commonly by women (58.2) compared to men (47.3). Participants in the highest (8.11 mcg/day) versus lowest quartile of intake of dietary B12 had reduced likelihood of reporting more than 2 dry eye symptoms and 1 or more moderate-severe dry eye symptoms: odds ratio 0.64 (95 confidence interval 0.41-1.00) and odds ratio 0.63 (95 confidence interval 0.41-0.97), respectively. Higher dietary intakes of vitamin C, thiamine (vitamin B1), polyunsaturated fats and calcium, were all associated with a reduced likelihood of participants reporting more than two dry eye symptoms (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: Intakes of a broad range of micro- and macro- nutrients were significantly and independently associated with reduced odds of experiencing dry eye symptoms.
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