Have any supplements been studied for dry eye?

    Researchedby:
    Bill Willis

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    by:

    Nick Milazzo, James Gaylor
    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Pycnogenol, a patented formulation of pine bark extract, has shown promise for alleviating dry eyes in patients with Sjogren’s disease, a common autoimmune condition in women that causes dry eyes and dry mouth. The mechanism of action isn’t clear but may be due to the anti-inflammatory effects of pycnogenol.

    Fish oil and omega 3 fatty acids have also shown some promise for providing relief to dry eyes with one study showing a 17% lower risk of dry eye compared to a placebo.[1] As with pycnogenol, the mechanism of action is not well understood, but likely involves the anti-inflammatory activity of omega-3 fats.

    References

    1. ^Biljana Miljanović, Komal A Trivedi, M Reza Dana, Jeffery P Gilbard, Julie E Buring, Debra A SchaumbergRelation between dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome in womenAm J Clin Nutr.(2005 Oct)