Category: Dry Eyes

Acupuncture Helps Dry Eye Sufferers

In 2006, researchers reported on a study of the effect of acupuncture on cases of dry eye.  Because acupuncture has proven to help those suffering from dry mouth, scientists, who discussed their findings at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, decided to try to technique for patients exhibiting dry eye.

The small study involved twelve patients, half of whom received needles in the Traditional Chinese Medicine points and half of whom received “sham” acupuncture .  Those who received real acupuncture demonstrated a significant improvement while those who received needles in random places on the body displayed a slight worsening of symptoms.  Source: Medscape

According to ClinicalTrials.gov, researchers are currently recruiting participants for a similar study at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  The trial is set to run through 2011.

To learn more about treatment options for dry eye syndrome, please visit our website.

Sjogren’s Syndrome Often Mis-Diagnosed

Results from a recent survey of 400 Sjogren’s syndrome patients showed that half of those surveyed experienced common symptoms such as dry mouth or dry eyes for three or more years before receiving an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional.

Half of patients with Sjogren’s had experienced very common symptoms for 3 or more years before they finally received an accurate diagnosis.  These common symptoms include dry mouth or dry eye syndrome.  

The reason may be that these symptoms are quite similar to other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupis, and simply getting older.

Reported: Michael Brennan, DDS, MHS, Director, Sjogren’s Syndrome and Salivary Disorders Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.

Editor’s Notes: Supplementing with certain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of Sjogren’s Syndrome. 


New Contact Lenses Deliver Medication to the Eye

New technology may replace eye drops currently used by people suffering from glaucoma and dry-eye.

Studies have found that a majority of glaucoma patients regularly skip their eye drops, putting themselves at risk for blindness, and that even when drops are used regularly, only a small percentage of the medication tends to be absorbed into the eye.

In an article published in the July issue of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, scientists announced that they have developed a contact lens that delivers medication to the eye at a constant rate for over 4 weeks. The lenses should not affect the wearer’s vision.

The special lenses were created by dissolving a biodegradable polymer called PLGA in an organic solvent, to which medication was added. After the solvent evaporated, researchers coated the polymer film/medication mix with a hydrogel called pHEMA — the same material used to make regular contact lenses. Researchers believe they can vary the molecular weight of the polymer to change the rate of drug release as needed.

To date the researchers have only tested the diffusion properties of the lens in a lab dish, but expect to be able to test the lenses in humans within a year.

SOURCE: A Drug-Eluting Contact Lens, Ciolino, et al, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2009;50:3346-3352.)

GLA Improves Comfort in Contact Lens-Related Dry Eye

A dry eye study, shows that a group using GLA showed a significant improvement in the specific symptom of “dryness” at 3 and 6 months (p <0.01) as well as significant improvement in overall lens comfort at 6 months (p<0.01). Tear meniscus height was increased in the GLA group at 6 months relative to baseline (p<0.01), although all other objective signs were unchanged

GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is an omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid made in the human body from linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid found in vegetable oils and egg yolks. GLA has anti-inflammatory properties and can also be found in oils derived from black currant seeds and the evening primrose plant.

Several small trials testing GLA and linoleic (LA) oil in dry eye syndrome with an inflammatory component report reduced ocular surface inflammation and symptom improvement.

Related Studies:
1. Barabino, M et al. Systemic linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid therapy in dry eye syndrome with an inflammatory component. Cornea 22:97–101, 2003.
2. Aragona P, et al. Systemic omega-6 essential fatty acid treatment and PGE1 tear content in Sjogren’s syndrome patients. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46:4474–9, 2005
3. Kokke KH, et al. Oral omega-6 essential fatty acid treatment in contact lens associated dry eye. Contact Lens Anterior Eye 31:141-6, 2008.
4. Macri A, et al. Effect of linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid on tear production, tear clearance and on the ocular surface after photorefractive keratectomy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 241: 561-6, 2003.

For more information on dry eyes and natural ways this eye condition can be helped, go to Natural Eye Care
 Eye Conditions section and click on Dry Eyes.

Dry Eye Disease on the Rise Among U.S. Men

Almost 4% of men in the United States develop dry eye disease (DED) after age 50, while almost 7.7% of men over 80 develop the disease, making it one of the most common eye conditions in the country.  By the year 2030, DED is expected to affect more than 2.79 million US men.

Typical symptoms of dry eye include dryness, grittiness, irritation, difficulty reading for long periods of time, burning and even the seeming contradiction of excessive tearing or watering.

In the study, published in June issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers analyzed data on 25,444 men over the age of 50 who participated in the Physicians’ Health Study I and II.  DED was defined as the presence of clinically diagnosed dry eye or severe symptoms (both dryness and constant or frequent irritation).   About 3% reported a previous diagnosis of dry eye, while 6.8% said they had constantly or frequently experienced at least one symptom such as dryness or irritation. Roughly 2.2% reported both symptoms constantly or frequently.

Although research has shown DED is more common among women, about 1.68 million men over age 50 in the United States now have the disease.

Researchers also noted that DED risk increases with age, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia (a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate), and antidepressant use.

Learn about vitamins and other nutritional products recommended for dry eye, and review a list of drugs that can cause dry eye symptoms at the Natural Eye Care website

SOURCE:  “Prevalence of Dry Eye Disease Among US Men,” Schaumberg, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(6):763-768.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids May Help Relieve Contact Lens-Associated Dry Eye

A 2008 study shows that consumption of omega-6 fatty acid may help alleviate dry eye symptoms and improve overall lens comfort in patients suffering from contact lens-associated dry eye.

Researchers evaluated the effects of oral treatment with omega-6 fatty acids in the form of evening primrose oil (EPO) on subjective symptoms, ocular surface signs and tear film characteristic in patients with contact lens-associated dry eye.

76 female soft contact lens wearers were treated for six months either with omega-6 fatty acids in the form of EPO or placebo (olive oil). The patients were given three examinations (baseline, three and six months) to test tear film characteristics (tear meniscus height, break-up time), meibomian gland function (lipid layer thickness and quality) and ocular surface parameters (hyperemia and staining). At each examination the women were given a questionnaire relating to lens comfort and dry eye symptoms.

The EPO group showed a significant improvement in the specific symptom of “dryness” at three and six months as well as a significant improvement in overall lens comfort at six months. Tear meniscus height was increased in the EPO group at six months relative to baseline, although all other objective signs were unchanged.

These findings support a 2003 study on omega-6 fatty acids which evaluated the effect of systemic linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on patients with dry eyes.

GLA is an essential fatty acid in the omega-6 family that is found primarily in plant-based oils, such as evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, and borage seed oils. Essential fatty acids help the body’s natural ability to fight inflammation, but cannot be made in the body and must be obtained from food. LA, another omega-6 fatty acid, is found in plant oils such as safflower oil and is converted to GLA in the body.

In another trial 26 dry eye patients were divided randomly  into two equal sections. One section received 28.5 mg linoleic acid and 15 mg gamma-linolenic acid twice a day for 45 days while the other control section was given a placebo for the same period.

The results? Researchers found that the therapy reduced inflammation on the surface of the eye and  improved dry eye symptoms.

Read more about dry eye and studies on dry eye

SOURCE: Oral Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acid Treatment in Contact Lens Associated Dry Eye. Kokke, et al. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2008;31(3):141-6.

SOURCE: Systemic Linoleic and Gamma-Linolenic Acid Therapy in Dry Eye Syndrome With an Inflammatory Component, Barabino, et al.Cornea. 22(2):97-101, March 2003.