Can Nutritional Supplements Reduce Dry Eye?

Paul M. Karpecki, O.D.: Have any of you had any experience with nutritional supplements for dry eye?

Frank A. Bucci, Jr., M.D.: I've seen some evidence that omega fatty acids (flax seed oil is one form) taken orally can help change the character of the oil in the meibomian glands, which can allow a better flow and decrease inflammation.

One product, HydroEyes from ScienceBased Health, is said to give you all the benefits of flax seed oil along with some other benefits. It has omega fatty acids from oils like cod liver and black currant, and it also contains some vitamins that the manufacturer claims will positively impact the aqueous and mucin layers.

Paul M. Karpecki, O.D.: Have you seen any benefits from this type of product?

Frank A. Bucci, Jr., M.D.: One benefit is that patients can stay on it long-term, as opposed to doxycycline. I start patients on both HydroEyes and doxycycline, then keep them on HydroEyes.

We're currently studying whether oral Hydro-Eyes affects the level of lactoferrin in tears, which would be an objective measure of tear physiology. Some anecdotal reports state that flax seed oil decreases dry-eye symptoms and increases the overall health of the ocular surface.

Paul M. Karpecki, O.D.: Do you prescribe this nutritional supplement only in the postoperative period?

Frank A. Bucci, Jr., M.D.: Yes. However, a number of practitioners are using HydoEyes preoperatively on their LASIK and cataract patients. They do this as a phophylactic measure.

Paul M. Karpecki, O.D.: Is there a downside to using these types of nutritional supplements?

Milton M. Hom, O.D.: Many nutritional treatments for dry eyes can take a month or more before they actually start to take effect. So a patient who has dry eye and wants to have LASIK may have to wait longer, which sometimes makes them reluctant to try such a remedy. If we're going to consider this approach, we need to thoroughly educate our patients and explain that it's really for their own good to go ahead and use these alternative treatments.