ArticleInternational journal of ophthalmology2013
A randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome.
Article in International journal of ophthalmology, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 59 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
59 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 100 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effects of different forms of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on dry eye disease resulting from various etiologies: a meta-analysis and systematic review.BMC ophthalmology · 2026Pooled it
- Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids for dry eye disease.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Omega-3 essential fatty acids therapy for dry eye syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2014Pooled it
- Omega-3 fatty acids supplements for dry eye - Are they effective or ineffective?Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2023Trial
- Dry Eye Subtypes in the Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) Study: A Latent Profile Analysis.Translational vision science & technology · 2022Trial
- Topical Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for the Treatment of Dry Eye - Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Masked-Observer Study.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2022Trial
- Effects of the re-esterified triglyceride (rTG) form of omega-3 supplements on dry eye following cataract surgery.The British journal of ophthalmology · 2021Trial
- The Dry Eye Assessment and Management (DREAM) extension study - A randomized clinical trial of withdrawal of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid in patients with dry eye disease.The ocular surface · 2020Trial
- n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.The New England journal of medicine · 2018Trial
- Trial
- Dietary and Formulation Potential of Natural Oils and Fats in Ocular Health and Disease: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Future Directions.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Oxidative Stress in Dry Eye Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.Biomolecules · 2026Review
- Adverse effects of antiglaucoma medications: pathophysiology and novel drug delivery strategies for mitigation.International ophthalmology · 2026Review
- Effect of Sunflower Lecithin Supplementation on Meibomian Gland Function in Adults With Dry Eye Disease.Cureus · 2025Article
- A Practical Approach for Optimizing Ocular Surface Status Before Cataract Surgery to Improve Visual Outcomes and Reduce the Risk of Postoperative Dry Eye.Ophthalmology and therapy · 2025Review
- Polyphenol-Loaded Nanodevices as Innovative Therapeutic Strategies for Dry Eye Disease: Advances and Perspectives.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- A narrative literature review about alpha-lipoic acid role in dry eye and ocular surface disease.Acta ophthalmologica · 2025Review
- Evaluation of meibomian glands in childhood malnutrition.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- A Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Fish Oil (Omega-3) in Sjögren's Syndrome Patients in Erbil-Iraq.Mediterranean journal of rheumatology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimTo evaluate the role of dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome.
methodsA prospective, interventional, placebo controlled, double blind randomized trial was done at two referral eye centers. Two hundred and sixty-four eyes of patients with dry eye were randomized to receive one capsule (500mg) two times a day containing 325mg EPA and 175mg DHA for 3 months (omega-3 group). The omega-3 group was compared to a group of patients (n=254) who received a placebo (placebo group). There were 4 patient visits (at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months). On each visit, recording of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), slit lamp examination and questionnaire based symptom evaluation and scoring was done. A symptomatic score of 0-6 was mild, 6.1-12 moderate and 12.1-18 severe dry eye. Response to intervention was monitored by routine tear function tests like Schirmer I test, tear film break-up time (TBUT), Rose Bengal staining and most notably, conjunctival impression cytology.
resultsSixty-five percent of patients in the omega-3 group and 33% of patients in placebo group had significant improvement in symptoms at 3 months (P=0.005). There was a significant change in both Schirmer's test value and TBUT values in the omega-3 group (P<0.001), both comparisons. However, there was a larger drift in TBUT values in omega-3 than the placebo group, in comparison to Schirmer's test values. The mean TBUT score was 2.54±2.34 in the omega-3 group and 0.13±0.16 in placebo group, respectively. The mean reduction in symptom score in omega-3 group was 2.02±0.96 as compared to 0.48±0.22 in placebo group (P<0.001). Despite a slight increase mean score, the Schirmer scores did not correlate well with symptomatic improvement.
conclusionOmega-3 fatty acids have a definite role for dry eye syndrome. The benefit seems to be more marked in conditions such as blepharitis and meibomian gland disease. The role of omega fatty acids in tear production and secretion needs further evaluation.
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Registered trials
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