The effects of different forms of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on dry eye disease resulting from various etiologies: a meta-analysis and systematic review
Abstract
Background: To compare the therapeutic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) supplements across different formulations and dry eye disease (DED) etiologies.
Methods: Studies were systematically searched in six databases without language restrictions. Dry eye symptom scores, tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer test, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) scores were extracted as outcomes. Meta-regression, sensitivity and subgroup analyses were implemented to investigate significant heterogeneity.
Results: Twenty-seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Systemic omega-3 supplementation appeared to improve all assessed outcomes in the overall pooled analysis; however, subgroup analyses revealed formulation- and etiology-dependent effects. Among systemic long-chain omega-3 formulations, efficacy was etiology-dependent: no significant benefits were observed in MGD-associated dry eye or in cases of unspecified etiology, whereas significant improvements were found in video display terminal-related dry eye and contact lens-associated dry eye. Given the limited evidence, findings were synthesized qualitatively: omega-3 supplements demonstrated beneficial effects in rosacea-associated and Sjögren's syndrome-related dry eye, whereas no clinically meaningful improvement was observed in LASIK-induced dry eye. In contrast, neither systemic short-chain fatty acids nor the combination of long- and short-chain omega-3 PUFAs…
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