Effect of Oral Re-esterified Omega-3 Nutritional Supplementation on Dry Eyes

Alice T. Epitropoulos, MD, Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, Zubin A. Shah, MPH, Edward J. Holland, MD, Michael Gross, MD, William J. Faulkner, MD, Cynthia Matossian, MD, Stephen S. Lane, MD, Melissa Toyos, MD, Frank A. Bucci, Jr, MD, and Henry D. Perry, MD

Cornea Volume 35, Number 9, September 2016

Abstract:

Purpose: To assess the effect of oral re-esterified omega-3 fatty acids on tear osmolarity, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tear break-up time (TBUT), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), fluorescein corneal staining, Schirmer score, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) stage and omega-3 index in subjects with dry eyes and confirmed MGD.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, interventional, placebo-controlled, double-masked study. Subjects were randomized to receive 4 softgels containing a total of 1680 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid/560 mg of docosahexaenoic acid or a control of 3136 mg of linoleic acid, daily for 12 weeks. Subjects were measured at baseline, week 6, and week 12 for tear osmolarity, TBUT, OSDI, fluorescein corneal staining, and Schirmer test with anesthesia. MMP-9 testing and omega-3 index were done at baseline and at 12 weeks.

Results: One hundred five subjects completed the study. They were ...