Elsevier

Ophthalmology

Volume 120, Issue 11, November 2013, Pages 2191-2196
Ophthalmology

Original article
Short-term Consumption of Oral Omega-3 and Dry Eye Syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.04.006Get rights and content

Purpose

To assess the effect of oral omega-3 fatty acids on tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s score, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) through a double-blind clinical trial.

Design

Randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Participants

Sixty-four patients with dry eye symptoms between the ages of 45 and 90 years were randomized into 2 groups: 33 persons in the treatment group and 31 persons in the placebo group.

Methods

The treatment group received 2 capsules of omega-3 (each containing 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and 120 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) daily for 30 days, and the placebo group received 2 medium-chain triglyceride oil capsules daily for 1 month. The outcomes were measured 1 month after the intervention.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary outcome measure was an increase from baseline in TBUT at day 30. Secondary outcome measures were a decrease from baseline in the OSDI score and an increase in the Schirmer’s score at day 30.

Results

In the placebo group, before the intervention, the mean TBUT, OSDI, and Schirmer’s scores were 4.5 ± 2.1 seconds, 36.4 ± 13.8, and 6.0 ± 2.6 mm, respectively, and 1 month later were 4.7 ± 2.6 seconds, 37.6 ± 13.5, and 6.2 ± 2.5 mm, respectively. In the treatment group, these values were 3.9 ± 1.7 seconds, 38.7 ± 16.5, and 5.8 ± 2.5 mm before the intervention and 5.67 ± 2.6 seconds, 29.3 ± 15.9, and 6.8 ± 2.8 mm after the intervention, respectively. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that improvements in TBUT, OSDI, and Schirmer’s scores were significantly better in the treatment group than in the placebo group. The changes in the treatment and placebo groups were 71% and 3.3% for TBUT (P < 0.001), 26% and 4% (P=0.004) for dry eye symptoms, and 22.3% and 5.1% for Schirmer’s score (P=0.033), respectively.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that oral consumption of omega-3 fatty acids (180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA twice daily for 30 days) is associated with a decrease in the rate of tear evaporation, an improvement in dry eye symptoms, and an increase in tear secretion.

Financial Disclosure(s)

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Section snippets

Methods

The subjects for this study were recruited from among the patients of a private ophthalmology clinic in the northern suburbs of Tehran. Patients with a positive history of DES in the records, mostly with dry eye symptoms, were contacted and invited for a follow-up visit. During the visit, their TBUT was measured using the Lowther technique by an experienced examiner (the technique is described later). The inclusion criteria for this study were (1) age 45 to 90 years, (2) TBUT <10 seconds in

Results

A total of 73 participants were recruited into the trial, with 64 returning and completing the follow-up examination. A total of 9 subjects (5 in the treatment group, 4 in the control group) failed to complete the trial; in the treatment group, 3 subjects stopped the medication because of digestion problems, 1 subject stopped the medication because of the advice of another doctor, and the rest of the subjects were lost to follow-up. Eventually, 64 patients (33 in the treatment group and 31 in

Discussion

The results of this study demonstrated that the oral consumption of omega-3 capsules (each capsule containing 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg DHA) twice daily for 1 month improves the signs and symptoms of DES. In terms of TBUT, an improvement of 71% was observed in the treatment group versus 3.3% in the placebo group. This improvement may have occurred because of the anti-inflammatory action of these omega-3 fatty acids on the meibomian glands. These fatty acids are believed to be involved in the

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  • Cited by (0)

    Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

    This project is funded by the Vice Chancellor for Research of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

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