Oral Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome

Penn State Health

Status

Completed

Conditions

Dry Eye Syndrome

Treatments

Drug: Placebo corn oil capsule

Drug: Oral Omega-3-acid ethyl esters

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT01107964

33794

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators hypothesize that oral omega-3-acid ethyl esters (Lovaza, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC) will decrease dry-eye related symptoms as well as clinical markers associated with dry eye disease (Schirmer-1 test values, positive vital staining with lissamine green, and fluorescein tear break-up time) when compared to administration of placebo.

Enrollment

27 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age > 18 years
Typical symptoms of dry eye (photophobia, burning, foreign body sensation, blurred vision improved with blinking)
Schirmer Test < 8 mm/5 minutes
Fluorescein tear break-up time < 8 seconds
No current use of dry eye treatment (except artificial lubrication)
Signature on consent form

Exclusion criteria

Infectious keratoconjunctivitis or inflammatory disease unrelated to dry eye
Eyelid or eyelash abnormalities
Alteration of the nasolacrimal apparatus
Treatment with drugs affecting tearing
Concomitant ocular therapies
Topical ophthalmic steroids taken during the 4 weeks before the study
Pregnant/breast-feeding women
History of liver disease
History of fish and/or shellfish allergy or hypersensitivity
History of corn allergy or hypersensitivity
Treatment with systemic anticoagulation therapy
Patients with bleeding disorders or those receiving anticoagulation (e.g., warfarin, enoxaparin, dipyridamole, clopidogrel)