Topical omega-3 fatty acid shows efficacy for treating dry eye syndrome

Applying topical alpha-linolenic omega-3 fatty acid may be a novel method for reducing the clinical symptoms and inflammatory changes associated with dry eye syndrome, according to a study involving animal models of the disease.

Saadia Rashid, MD, and colleagues investigated the effects from topical alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid applied to dry eyes induced in murine models. Specifically, formulations containing either ALA, linoleic acid, or combined ALA and linoleic acid were compared against no treatment. Outcomes were assessed using corneal fluorescein staining and real-time polymerase chain reactions to quantify corneal and conjunctival inflammatory cytokine expression, according to the study.

"Treatment with ALA significantly decreased corneal fluorescein staining compared with both vehicle and untreated controls," the authors said in the study.

"Topical ALA treatment led to a significant decrease in dry eye signs and inflammatory changes at both cellular and molecular levels," they said.

The study is published in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.