Since caffeine is a diuretic (causes the body to lose water by expelling more fluid through the urine), it has been investigated as a potential cause of dry eyes. A couple of large, population-based cohort studies found no association between caffeine intake and dry eyes.[1][2] Moreover, an RCT in healthy individuals without dry eyes found that caffeine ingestion caused a significant intake in tear production, suggesting [3] that it may actually have the opposite effect.
Is there a connection between caffeine intake and dry eyes?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Caffeine, because it is a diuretic, has been studied for its potential link to dry eye, but large cohort studies have found no association. Additionally, a randomized controlled trial indicated that caffeine may increase tear production, which suggests that it could have the opposite effect on dry eye.