According
to a study published in the journal Cornea, daily supplementation with a
combination of omega-3 fatty acids for six months improves ocular irritation
symptoms and halts the progression of inflammation characteristic of
moderate-to-severe dry eye,.
Stephen
Pflugfelder, professor of ophthalmology and James and Margaret Elkins chair at
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and his team evaluated the effect of
a supplement containing both gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids on postmenopausal patients with tear dysfunction.
This research study reinforces the findings of earlier works by people such as
Gilbard et al whose studies showed that an optimised mix of fish and flax oil,
Theratears Nutrition, both improved meibomian secretions and reduced
inflammation in Dry Eye.
A
total of 38 patients were included in the study and randomly assigned to
receive the supplement or a placebo for six months. Disease parameters
including Ocular Surface Disease Index, Schirmer test, tear breakup time,
conjunctival fluorescein and lissamine green staining and topographic corneal
smoothness indexes were assessed after four, 12 and 24 weeks and compared to
the start of the study.
The
researchers found that the Ocular Surface Disease Index score significantly
improved with supplementation and was significantly lower than the placebo
after six months. The surface asymmetry index was also significantly lower in
supplement-treated patients than those receiving the placebo. Supplementation
was also found to suppress ocular surface inflammation.
“Prior
to this study, clinical evidence showing that nutritional supplements were
beneficial in treating dry eye was scarce,” said Mr Pflugfelder. “Within three
months, the group treated with theOmega 3 supplement showed statistically
significant improvements in irritation symptoms of dry eye, and no progression
of ocular surface inflammation or corneal irregularity. The placebo group’s dry
eye symptoms actually worsened over the six-month testing period.”
He
added: “While the trial studied post-menopausal women, the largest group of dry
eye sufferers, we think the benefits of Omega 3 supplementation should apply to
other populations suffering from dry eye since inflammation is believed to be a
common thread in dry eye.”
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