PURPOSE: To assess the effect of oral linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid, 2 omega-6 essential fatty acids, on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS:Fifty-seven patients with MGD (27 men and 30 women) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 19. Group A received tablets containing linoleic acid (28.5 mg) and gamma-linolenic acid (15 mg) once daily. Group B performed eyelid hygiene once daily. Group C received both treatments. Initially and after 60 and 180 days of therapy, all patients completed a self-evaluation questionnaire on ocular surface disorders and underwent slit-lamp examination. The following signs were evaluated: eyelid edema, eyelid margin hyperemia, meibomian secretion appearance, meibomian gland obstruction, foam collection in the tear meniscus, conjunctival hyperemia, conjunctival papillae, and corneal staining. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvement in symptoms occurred in all groups. After 180-day therapy, group A showed significant reduction in secretion turbidity (P = 0.02) and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001), whereas group B had significant reduction in eyelid edema (P = 0.02), corneal staining (P = 0.01), secretion turbidity (P = 0.01), and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001). Group C had significant reduction in eyelid edema (P = 0.003), foam collection in the tear meniscus (P = 0.02), corneal staining (P = 0.02), secretion turbidity (P = 0.0001), and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid tablets along with eyelid hygiene improves symptoms and reduces eyelid margin inflammation in MGD more than either omega-6 fatty acids or eyelid hygiene alone.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: To assess the effect of oral linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid, 2 omega-6 essential fatty acids, on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with MGD (27 men and 30 women) were randomly divided into 3 groups of 19. Group A received tablets containing linoleic acid (28.5 mg) and gamma-linolenic acid (15 mg) once daily. Group B performed eyelid hygiene once daily. Group C received both treatments. Initially and after 60 and 180 days of therapy, all patients completed a self-evaluation questionnaire on ocular surface disorders and underwent slit-lamp examination. The following signs were evaluated: eyelid edema, eyelid margin hyperemia, meibomian secretion appearance, meibomian gland obstruction, foam collection in the tear meniscus, conjunctival hyperemia, conjunctival papillae, and corneal staining. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvement in symptoms occurred in all groups. After 180-day therapy, group A showed significant reduction in secretion turbidity (P = 0.02) and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001), whereas group B had significant reduction in eyelid edema (P = 0.02), corneal staining (P = 0.01), secretion turbidity (P = 0.01), and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001). Group C had significant reduction in eyelid edema (P = 0.003), foam collection in the tear meniscus (P = 0.02), corneal staining (P = 0.02), secretion turbidity (P = 0.0001), and meibomian gland obstruction (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid tablets along with eyelid hygiene improves symptoms and reduces eyelid margin inflammation in MGD more than either omega-6 fatty acids or eyelid hygiene alone.
Authors: Penny A Asbell; Fiona J Stapleton; Kerstin Wickström; Esen K Akpek; Pasquale Aragona; Reza Dana; Michael A Lemp; Kelly K Nichols Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2011-03-30 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Debra A Schaumberg; Jason J Nichols; Eric B Papas; Louis Tong; Miki Uchino; Kelly K Nichols Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2011-03-30 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Yousef A Alghamdi; Andrew Camp; William Feuer; Carol L Karp; Sarah Wellik; Anat Galor Journal: Eye Contact Lens Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 2.018