Purpose
Dry eye is a common complaint often encountered in optometric practice. However, it is a
difficult condition to treat as clinical signs do not always correlate with patient symptoms. Essential fatty
acids (EFA), particularly omega-3 EFA, may be effective in dealing with the underlying causes.
Methods
A literature review was carried out on the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Ovid databases. Searches
included keywords such as ‘dry eye’, ‘essential fatty acids’ and ‘nutrition’ to find articles relating to the
treatment of dry eye syndrome (DES) with omega-3 EFAs.
Results
Omega-3 and -6 EFAs need to be consumed together within a reasonable ratio to be effective.
Currently, typical diets in developed countries lack omega-3 EFA and this results in an overexposure to
omega-6. Omega-3 supplementation has an anti-inflammatory effect, inhibiting creation of omega-6
prostaglandin precursors. Omega-3 EFAs also demonstrate anti-inflammatory action in the lacrimal
gland preventing apoptosis of the secretory epithelial cells. Supplementation clears meibomitis,
allowing a thinner, more elastic lipid layer to protect the tear film and cornea...
Marco Roncone, Hannah Bartlett, Frank Eperjesi
Contact Lens & Anterior Eye 33:2
49–54
Abstract
| Full Article | PDF
FEATURED ARTICLE FROM OPHTHALMOLOGY
Enhanced Depth Imaging Detects Lamina Cribrosa Thickness Differences in Normal Tension Glaucoma and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Objective
To confirm the advantages of the enhanced depth imaging (EDI) mode over the standard mode of the Heidelberg Spectralis spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for imaging of the lamina cribrosa, and to compare laminar thicknesses of various glaucoma types with or without disc hemorrhage in a similar state of visual field loss.
Design
Cross-sectional, case-control design.
Participants
We included 137 glaucoma patients and 49 healthy controls.
Methods
Optic nerve head B-scans were obtained by both the standard and EDI modes of the Spectralis OCT. Laminar thickness was measured at the center of mid-superior, central, and mid-inferior horizontal B-scans. Laminar thickness in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) was compared with that in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). To verify the reproducibility of EDI imaging, intraclass correlation coefficients and test–retest variability were calculated from selected B-scans.
Hae-Young Lopilly Park, So Hee Jeon, Chan Kee Park
Ophthalmology
119:1 Pages 10-20
Abstract | Full Article | PDF
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