Dry Eye Syndrome Improves With Omega-3 And Omega-6 Taken For 6 Months
Dry Eye Syndrome: 6 Months of Omega-3 and Omega-6 to Improve Conditions
According to a recently published study in the journal Cornea, supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may reduce the symptom complex of dry eye syndrome. Dry eye, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye refers to a disorder caused by reduced tear production due to partial or total atrophy of the lacrimal glands or excessive evaporation of the tear film. 
This disorder can be attributed to primary or secondary causes: Sjögren’s syndrome is an example of dry eye with a primary cause, as a consequence of an autoimmune disease. While dry eye from secondary causes occurs following, for example, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, or prolonged use of contact lenses.
Dry Eye Syndrome: Women Are More Affected
Dry eye is more common in women aged between 40 and 60 years. Those affected report burning, sensation of a foreign body in the eye, photophobia, difficulty opening the eyelid upon waking, and in severe cases, pain and blurred vision. Proper ocular hydration is essential to manage the condition, but often this measure alone does not adequately reduce symptoms.
Dry Eye Syndrome: The Study
According to a recently published study in Cornea conducted by a team of researchers from the Lee Laboratory for Ocular Pharmacology at Eastern Virginia Medical School led by Professor John Sheppard, dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oil EPA and DHA and omega-6 GLA may contribute to eye health in individuals with moderate to severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
The researchers enrolled 38 postmenopausal women and randomly assigned them to take for 6 months either a supplement containing omega-3 EPA (125 mg) and DHA (99 mg) combined with omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid GLA (240 mg) and antioxidants or a placebo.
Symptoms Improve Due to Inflammation Reduction
Women who took the supplement showed, after just 3 months of supplementation, a significant reduction in the signs of eye irritation characteristic of their condition and a smoother cornea compared to patients treated with placebo. Nutritional supplementation in patients halted the progression of inflammation, while women on placebo experienced marked worsening of irritation and inflammation over the 6 months of the study.
Tear production and tear breakup time were similar between the two groups. This demonstrated that supplementation with essential fatty acids improved symptoms by reducing inflammation and not by increasing tear production.
The study was conducted on postmenopausal women, a population group most affected by the disorder, but supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 may also provide relief in other patient groups suffering from dry eye. Further studies on the subject are certainly needed. We recommend here one of our supplements, Omegor Twinefa, which combines high-concentration omega-3 EPA and DHA with omega-6 GLA. Tags: dry eye syndrome, omega-3, omega-6
Source: Sheppard, John D. Jr, Singh, Ruhi, McClellan, Andrew J., et al. "Long-term Supplementation With n-6 and n-3 PUFAs Improves Moderate-to-Severe Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial". Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318299549c
