Oral antioxidant therapy for marginal dry eye.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of an orally administered antioxidant dietary supplement for managing marginal dry eye.


METHODS
A prospective, randomised, placebo controlled trial with cross-over.


METHODS
Eye Clinic, Department of Vision Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University.


METHODS
Forty marginal dry eye sufferers composed of 30 females and 10 males (median age 53 y; range 38-69 y).


METHODS
Baseline assessments were made of tear volume sufficiency (thread test), tear quality (stability), ocular surface status (conjunctival impression cytology) and dry eye symptoms (questionnaire). Each subject was administered courses of active treatment, placebo and no treatment, in random order for 1 month each and results compared to baseline.


RESULTS
Tear stability and ocular surface status were significantly improved following active treatment (P<0.05). No changes from baseline were detected following administration of placebo and no treatment (P>0.05). Absolute increase in tear stability correlated with absolute change in goblet cell population density. Tear volume was not improved following any treatment period and dry eye symptom responses were subject to placebo effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral antioxidants improved both tear stability and conjunctival health, although it is not yet understood whether increased ocular surface health mediates increased tear stability or vice versa.


BACKGROUND
This study was supported by a PhD scholarship funded by the Department of Vision Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland. Antioxidant supplements and placebos were kindly donated by Vitabiotics.
Blades
K J
KJ
Department of Vision Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Patel
S
S
Aidoo
K E
KE
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002452:Cell Count; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000975:Antioxidants