A recent study assessed the efficacy of re-esterified triglyceride omega-3 fatty acids in treating dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction.
Published in JAMA Ophthalmology, the randomized clinical trial included 132 patients with a mean age of 50.6 years, who were randomly assigned to receive either re-esterified triglyceride omega-3 supplements or grape-seed oil. The study found that re-esterified triglyceride (rTG) omega-3 fatty acids were not superior to grape-seed oil in ameliorating symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Both treatment groups exhibited significant improvements in the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores over a 12-week period, with no significant differences between the groups. At six weeks, the mean change in OSDI was -20.5 in the omega-3 group and -15.1 in the grape-seed group. At 12 weeks, the changes were -22.7 and -18.8, respectively.
No adverse events were reported in either group. Compliance rates were high, with 95.8% in the omega-3 group and 95.4% in the grape-seed group. Visual acuity and intraocular pressure remained stable throughout the study duration.
The trial concluded that re-esterified triglyceride omega-3 fatty acids did not provide additional benefits over grape-seed oil in improving symptoms of dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction.
Full disclosures can be found in the original study.