Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivities Linked to Vision Problems

Allergies to food can cause eye symptoms, but food allergies can also lead to vision problems. Grouped with food allergies are food intolerances and food sensitivities. While food allergies are an immune system reaction, intolerances and sensitivities are related to the digestive system. In this article, we discuss how individuals with these food issues need to protect their eyes from harm.

The Differences Between Food Allergies, Sensitivities, and Intolerances

Food allergies occur when the immune system produces an IgE-mediated response to specific proteins found in certain foods. In contrast, food intolerances and sensitivities are typically related to the digestive system’s inability to properly break down or process particular foods, rather than an immune reaction.

Food Allergies

Upon coming in contact with a food, an allergic person can have a reaction. Common symptoms include:

• Digestive Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping
• Skin Symptoms: Hives (red, raised welts), itching, eczema (itchy, inflamed skin), redness and swelling
• Respiratory Symptoms: Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest tightness
• Mouth and Throat Symptoms: Tingling or itching in the mouth, swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty swallowing
• Cardiovascular Symptoms: Rapid or weak pulse, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting

Severe symptoms can be life-threatening and require first aid or medical attention. Anaphylaxis can include:

• Respiratory: Difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or a sensation of the throat closing
• Cardiovascular: Rapid and weak pulse, dizziness, fainting, or loss of consciousness
• Skin: Hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Other: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain

The effects of food allergies on the eyes can include redness, itching, swelling, and watery eyes. These symptoms are a result of the body’s immune system reacting to allergens, like histamine release. This immune reaction causes inflammation in the conjunctiva, which is the membrane covering the eye and inner eyelid.

Typical food allergies are: dairy, wheat (which contains gluten, a common allergen), peanuts and tree nuts, soy, shellfish, eggs, milk and dairy products, and sesame seeds. A tick bite, especially by a Lone Star tick, can introduce alpha-gal that causes an allergy to red meat.

Food Intolerances

A food intolerance is when your body has trouble digesting certain foods, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like bloating, stomach pain, gas, or diarrhea. Unlike a food allergy, a food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system and is generally not life-threatening. The symptoms usually appear gradually and depend on the amount of food consumed.

Food Sensitivities

A food sensitivity is when your body reacts negatively to certain foods, causing symptoms like bloating, headaches, fatigue, or digestive discomfort. Unlike a food allergy, food sensitivities don’t involve the immune system and are usually not life-threatening. Symptoms can be delayed and may appear hours or even days after eating the food, making them sometimes tricky to identify.

At Natural Eye Care, we have compiled lists of natural supplements based on common allergens. For example, no corn, gluten-free, no eggs, non-GMO, organic, etc.

Effects of Food Allergies on the Eyes

Anaphylaxis From Food Allergies

In severe cases, food allergies can cause anaphylaxis, which can include swelling and redness of the conjunctivae and surrounding tissues. If you see someone potentially suffering from anaphylaxis, apply first aid and seek medical help.

Dark Circles

Allergies—including food allergies—can lead to fluid retention and swelling around the eyes. This often results in dark circles, commonly known as “allergic shiners.”

Food Intolerances and Sensitivities

Dry Eyes and Food Intolerances

Certain food intolerances that trigger gut inflammation may also play a role in causing dry eyes. This connection is thought to stem from inflammation at the cellular level, which can affect both digestive and ocular health.

Caffeine: Food Allergies or Intolerances?

Some people are sensitive to the effects of caffeinated foods and drinks. Caffeine is a common stimulant found in foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate. Negative effects, particularly related to consuming large amounts of caffeine, may include: headaches, sleep disturbances, jitters, and outbreaks of rashes. The rashes can be caused by a food sensitivity or intolerance, or they may be a result of a true food allergy.

Impaired Gut Barrier Function

Dysfunction of the gut barrier, also sometimes referred to as “leaky gut,” develops when junctions between cells that line the gut, called tight junctions, loosen or become damaged. These tight junctions prevent unwanted substances from leaking into the body such as harmful microorganisms (including Candida yeast), toxins, and undigested food particles.

Balanced Gut Microbiome and Food Allergies / Intolerances/ Sensitivities

Maintaining a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut is vital—not only for reducing allergies but also for supporting overall well-being. The microbiome, which consists of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and on the body, plays a fundamental role in digestion, immune system function, and metabolism. Promoting a healthy microbiome through a balanced diet, probiotics, and other interventions, which can include digestive enzyme supplementation, may help prevent or manage food intolerances or sensitivities.

Evidence also suggests that prebiotics, which are carbohydrate-based “foods for probiotics,” can help support gut barrier integrity. Prebiotics that may support gut barrier integrity include inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, and xylooligosaccharides. ¹

Medications

Certain medications can affect the body’s ability to digest food and impact gut function. In particular, proton pump inhibitors, which include many drugs that treat reflux and peptic ulcers, can be problematic. These may contribute to the progression of eosinophilic esophagitis by hindering the digestion of food allergens, contributing to impaired gut barrier function that leads to the absorption of undigested food allergens, and causing microbiome imbalance. ²

Inflammation and Diet Affect Food Allergies

As allergies are an inflammatory reaction, one way to mitigate the effects is to maintain an alkaline diet. The following food sources are acidic and promote inflammation:

• Refined Carbohydrates: These include foods such as white bread, pasta, candy, many breakfast cereals (especially those with added sugar), baked goods like cookies and cake, processed snack foods, and sweetened beverages—including sodas and many fruit juices.
• Sugar (sucrose) and High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Commonly found in a wide range of baked goods and processed foods.
• Vegetable Oils High in Omega-6 Fatty Acids: Includes oils such as soybean, grapeseed, corn, sunflower, peanut, and sesame, which are frequently used in processed and packaged foods.
• Artificial Trans Fats and Saturated Fats: Often present in margarine and many processed products.
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption
• Processed meats (ham, bacon, sausage, smoked meat). All meat is acidic in nature. Fish and chicken are neutral.

Some research suggests that a higher intake of ultra-processed foods may be linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. ^{3 4 5}

Many preclinical studies have identified mechanisms by which glutamine may support gut barrier integrity. ⁶⁷

Nutrients for Gut Support

Curcumin (Turmeric)

Substantial preclinical evidence suggests curcumin may have the potential to ameliorate inflammatory diseases affecting the gut. ^{8 9}

Zinc-L-Carnosine

Several small trials have shown zinc-L-carnosine to be effective in healing the gastric or intestinal mucosa in a variety of clinical situations. ¹⁰

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Preclinical research suggests omega-3 supplementation can suppress allergic responses and improve symptoms. ¹¹

Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays a vital role in immune function and anti-inflammatory pathway modulation, with research showing that elevated levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with stronger immune responses and decreased production of inflammatory cytokines. ^{12 13}

Other Helpful Nutrients

Resveratrol, Quercetin, Zinc. The importance of vitamins D and K for bone health and immune function in inflammatory bowel disease. ¹⁴

You can find healthy diet tips on the Natural Eye Care website. Also, see our Alkaline Food Chart.

Essential Oils

Peppermint Essential Oil

A 1998 study¹⁵ found that peppermint oil demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory properties, which helped alleviate symptoms of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. These promising results led researchers to recommend further clinical trials. When using essential oils, they can be diffused into the air or, if applied topically, should always be diluted with a carrier oil.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Many proponents of natural remedies recommend adding eucalyptus oil to laundry loads during allergy season. This practice is believed to help reduce allergens, thanks to eucalyptus oil’s well-known antimicrobial qualities.

Frankincense Essential Oil

According to a 2016 study,¹⁶ frankincense oil may offer benefits for individuals with perennial allergic rhinitis. For safe use, it should be diluted with a carrier oil before applying behind the ears, or it can be diffused into the air for inhalation.

Supplements

Eyebright (Eyebrite) Drops (with MSM) 1oz

Optase Allegro (allergy) Dry Eyedrops

Daily Immune Essentials (Allergy) Summer Blend 90 Vegan Caps

Resveratrol (Trans) w/Quercetin 60 vegcaps = helps reduce inflammation due to allergies and overall.

Butterbur Extra 120 caps – In a 2003 review, was found to be equally effective for itchy eyes as a commonly used oral antihistamine.

Dr. Grossman’s Premium Turmeric Vcaps (Organic)

OmegaGenics™ EPA-DHA 720 Lemon 120 gels

Flora 5-14™ Complete Care 60 vegcaps (FL514) – studies indicated that probiotics may help improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis. 

Vitamin D3 5,000 + K 60 softgels

EyeEase Formula 2 fl oz – can be taken internally and/or used as part of an eye compress. Helps reduce inflammation and is useful for low-grade external eye infections.

Suggested Eye and Overall Body Health Formulas

Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (whole food) 60 vcaps – this is our whole food, organic, GMO free foundation eye formula.

Dr. Grossman’s Blood Vessel Control Formula 2oz – helps reduce inflammation and the risk of unwanted blood vessel growth. 

Dr. Grossman’s Whole Food Organic Superfood Multi-Vitamin 120 Vcaps – this is our whole food, organic, GMO free formula

Frankincense Essential Oil 1/3 oz

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