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Patients with dry eye respond rapidly to oral supplement
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A recent study of 67 patients with dry eye showed improvement in clinical test results after 1 week of taking a nutritional supplement containing omega-3s and seven additional nutrients, according to ZeaVision.
The company’s EyePromise EZ Tears was evaluated in an 8-week study conducted by Mulqueeny and colleagues and published in Advances in Ophthalmology and Visual System.
Researchers measured baseline tear film, osmolarity, tear break-up time, tear meniscus height, phenol red thread test, corneal conjunctival staining and lid margin scoring, according to the study. Patients were also assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.
Patients ingested two softgels per day of EyePromise EZ Tears, which contain omega-3s, turmeric extract, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E and green tea extract. They were assessed at baseline and after 1 week, 4 weeks and 8 weeks.
According to a press release from ZeaVision, “At the conclusion of 8 weeks, participants experienced a 38% improvement in their OSDI scores.”
The researchers reported in the study: “We were able to show that the nutritional supplement not only improved signs of dry eye among individuals suffering more signs of dry eye (i.e., moderate dry eye), but also symptoms as measured by the OSDI survey as well. Analyses indicated improvement even in those presenting with fewer signs of dry eye.”
Principal investigator Sean Mulqueeny, OD, said in the press release: "One of the most surprising findings from this study was the rapid onset of action after initiation of supplementation. In clinical tests administered, patients began demonstrating improvement within 1 week, and improvements continued to increase over the 8-week study." – by Nancy Hemphill, ELS, FAAO
Disclosure: ZeaVision provided the supplements for the study.
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