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Short-term omega-3 consumption improves symptoms of dry eye syndrome
Oral consumption of omega-3 fatty acids twice daily for 1 month yielded improvement in symptoms of dry eye syndrome, according to a study.
The randomized, double-masked study comprised 64 patients with symptoms of dry eye divided into two groups; the treatment group included 33 patients and the placebo group included 31 patients.
For 30 days, two capsules of omega-3 were administered daily to the treatment group while two medium-chain triglyceride oil capsules were administered daily to the placebo group.
There were significant improvements in the treatment group compared with the placebo group.
The tear breakup time improved by 71% in the treatment group compared with 3.3% in the placebo group; symptoms related to dry eye syndrome as measured by the Ocular Surface Disease Index decreased by 26% in the treatment compared with a 4% increase in the placebo group; and the Schirmer’s test score improved by 22.3% in the treatment group compared with 5.1% in the placebo group.
Disclosure: The study authors have no relevant financial disclosures.