Effect of Fish Oil Orally on Symptoms and Tear Film Stability
In Dry Eye Patients Therapy with Tear Film Substitute

1. Rosy Aldina
2. Surya Utama
3. Hidayat Sujuti

Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang, Indonesia

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of dietary fish oil in patients with ocular dryness that were managed with tear substitute.

METHODS : Sixty eight patients presenting with dry eye syndromes managed with tear substitute were randomly assigned to fish oil group and no fish oil group. All groups was examined for Schirmer test, Ferning, MGD, and BUT before and after therapy. Symptoms of dry eye was assessed using Mc Monnies Dry Eye Questionaire.

RESULTS: The Schirmer test, Ferning test, and BUT were improved on the fish oil group compared to no fish oil group (p<0.01). The patient subjective were also decreased on the fish oil group, the difference before and after therapy was significant (p<0.01)

CONCLUSIONS : Fish oil seems to be a promising treatment in alleviating symptoms related to dry eye syndrome and tear film stability. These results should be confirmed by a further study with larger population and longer period.