Oral Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for Laser In Situ Keratomileusis–Associated Dry Eye. Issue 2 (8th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goyal, Parul; Jain, Arun K.; Malhotra, Chintan
• Is Part Of: Cornea. Volume 36:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 169
• Page End: 175
• Publication Date: 2016-12-08
• Subjects: omega-3 fatty acids -- LASIK -- dry eye; Cornea -- Periodicals; Cornea -- Periodicals; Cornée -- Périodiques; 617.719
• DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001108
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3740

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To determine the effect of oral omega-3 fatty acid (ω3FA) supplementation in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)-associated dry eye. Methods: In this prospective, open-label study, patients undergoing LASIK were randomized to receive either 1.2 g/d of a triglyceride formulation of oral ω3FA (treatment group) or 400 mg/d vitamin E (control group) for 1 week before and continued for 12 weeks after surgery. Ocular surface disease index, tear breakup time, ocular surface staining, and Schirmer scores were evaluated and compared preoperatively and at 3 months after LASIK. Results: The study included 30 patients in each group. All parameters were comparable at baseline. Ocular surface disease index scores increased comparably in both groups (1.9 ± 0.6 increase in the treatment group; 2.8 ± 0.5 in the control group) ( P = 0.267). Compared with baseline levels, tear breakup time decreased significantly ( P < 0.01) but comparably in both treatment (−2.3 ± 0.4 seconds decrease) and control (−3.5 ± 0.7 seconds decrease) groups ( P = 0.105). More eyes in the control group (43.4%) had conjunctival staining with Lissamine green at 3 months compared with the treatment group (14%) ( P = 0.009). The Schirmer score at 3 months was higher ( P = 0.003) in the treatment group (30.5 ± 0.90 mm) than in the control group (25.7 ± 1.3 mm) with a increase of 5.9 ± 1.3 mm from baseline in the treatment group and a decrease of 1.5 ± 1.2 mm in the control group. Conclusions: Supplementation with ω3FA in patients undergoing LASIK had a positive influence on tear secretion, whereas tear film stability remained unaffected when compared with the control group.