Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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Dry eye syndrome, marked by feelings of grittiness, irritation, and burning as well as difficulty reading for long periods of time, and, even though it seems quite contradictory, excessive tearing or watering of the eyes, is a potentially debilitating condition that requires treatment.

Some eye doctors blame dry eye on problems with the meibomian gland, one of the sources of tear film.  An article in Optometry Times discusses ways to clear blockages of the meibomian gland including the potentially painful squeezing of the gland (by a medical professional) or the less aggressive (though also potentially less effective) application of warm compresses to melt the obstruction.

For other treatments of dry eye and tips on how to prevent the condition, visit our website.

A recent study done at the Catholic University of Korea showed that using eyedrops containing retinal palmitate daily for 4 weeks can effectively relieve the symptoms of dry eyes and improve tear film production. 

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Accepted 11 August 2008. published online 09 October 2008. Inquiries to Choun-Ki Joo, Department of Ophthalmology, KangNam St Mary’s Hospital, #505 Ban-Po Dong, Seocho-Ku, Seoul 137-040, Korea

For more information on dry eyes and eyedrops containing retinal palmitate, see the dry eye section at http://www.naturaleyecare.com/

A recent study shows that consumption of omega-6 fatty acid may help alleviate dry eye symptoms and improve overall lens comfort in patients suffering from contact lens-associated dry eye.

Researchers evaluated the effects of oral treatment with omega-6 fatty acids in the form of evening primrose oil (EPO) on subjective symptoms, ocular surface signs and tear film characteristic in patients with contact lens-associated dry eye.

76 female soft contact lens wearers were treated for six months either with omega-6 fatty acids in the form of EPO or placebo (olive oil). The patients were given three examinations (baseline, three and six months) to test tear film characteristics (tear meniscus height, break-up time), meibomian gland function (lipid layer thickness and quality) and ocular surface parameters (hyperemia and staining). At each examination the women were given a questionnaire relating to lens comfort and dry eye symptoms.

The EPO group showed a significant improvement in the specific symptom of “dryness” at three and six months as well as a significant improvement in overall lens comfort at six months. Tear meniscus height was increased in the EPO group at six months relative to baseline, although all other objective signs were unchanged.

These findings support a 2003 study on omega-6 fatty acids which evaluated the effect of systemic linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on patients with dry eyes.

GLA is an essential fatty acid in the omega-6 family that is found primarily in plant-based oils, such as evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, and borage seed oils. Essential fatty acids help the body’s natural ability to fight inflammation, but cannot be made in the body and must be obtained from food. LA, another omega-6 fatty acid, is found in plant oils such as safflower oil and is converted to GLA in the body.

In a randomized clinical trial, 26 patients with dry eye (aqueous-deficient keratoconjunctivitis sicca) were randomly divided into two groups of 13 patients each. The study group received tablets containing LA (28.5 mg) and GLA (15 mg) twice daily for 45 days; the control group received a placebo tablet for 45 days.

The results? Researchers found that therapy with LA and GLA and tear substitutes reduced ocular surface inflammation and improved dry eye symptoms.

Read more about dry eye and studies on dry eye

SOURCE: Oral Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acid Treatment in Contact Lens Associated Dry Eye. Kokke, et al. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2008;31(3):141-6.

SOURCE: Systemic Linoleic and Gamma-Linolenic Acid Therapy in Dry Eye Syndrome With an Inflammatory Component, Barabino, et al.Cornea. 22(2):97-101, March 2003.