Evaluation of Effect and Safety Profile of Systemic Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Treatment of Dry Eye Over a Period of 3 Months: An Institutional Based Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Dry eye is a symptom complex resulting fromalteration in composition, stability and tonicity of the tear film.Dry eye affects millions and substantially altering theproductivity and quality of life. The aim of the present studywas to evaluate the effect and safety profile of systemicomega-3 fatty acids in treatment of dry eye over a period of 3months.Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomisedcontrol study, 40 patients of Dry eye disease were recruitedfrom outpatient Department of Ophthalmology, SubhartiMedical College, Meerut. Group A Patients were given tearsubstitutes (carboxy methyl cellulose 0.5%) q.i.d. as well asomega-3 fatty acids in recommended doses. Group B Patientswere given tear substitutes only q.i.d. (carboxy methyl cellulose0.5%). Follow up examination was done after two weeks, sixweeks and twelve weeks. OSDI were done at every visit.Comparison between randomized groups was done usingindependent T Test. P value was calculated and p value lessthan 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: In the present study total no. of patients was 40 inwhich 4 patients drop out. Patients were followed up for 12weeks. The maximum cases were in the age group 40-50 yrs(52.77%) Mean age of patients were 49.16 yrs. Disease wasbilateral in all patients. Out of 36 patients included in studymajority were female i.e.21 (58.33%). In the present study weobserved that in group A (omega-3 fatty acids + lubricant eyedrops) the mean and standard deviation of OSDI score showedimprovement on the successive follow-ups i.e. from 70.5±15.5to 20.2 ± 13.8. In group B (lubricant eye drops) the mean andstandard deviation showed slight improvement on the firstfollow up i.e. from 70.2±15.2 to 53.31±14.9, then no significantimprovement on further follow-ups i.e. 68.73±15.0 on thesecond follow up and 69.77±15.1 on the third follow up. Oncomparing OSDI test scores between two groups usingindependent “t” test the p value was found to be significant onsecond, third and fourth follow-ups i.e. (p<.05).Conclusion: Our study concluded that OSDI score improvedamong participants of Group A at 12 weeks and thisimprovement was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001).No significant improvement was seen in Group B. Dietaryintervention with Omega-3 fatty acid not only causessymptomatic improvement but also improves clinical markersof dry eye as evidenced by a positive drift in OSDI score.