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

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2015-06-15
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

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.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• Collaborators: GlaxoSmithKline; The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation

Criteria

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)