Associations between diet and ocular symptoms and tear volume in subjects with symptomatic dry eye

Jaya Sowjanya Siddireddy, Jacqueline Tan, Isabelle Jalbert, Blanka Golebiowski, Fiona Stapleton

Research output: Contribution to conference (non-published works)Abstractpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate associations between dietary intake of various food types and ocular symptoms and tear volume in subjects with symptomatic dry eye.
Methods: Baseline data from three separate clinical trials incorporating symptomatic dry eye subjects (Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI] >12) were pooled. Subjects completed self-administered questionnaires regarding nutrition (unit servings per week of various food types) and ocular symptoms (OSDI). Phenol red thread tear volume was also measured. General linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate associations between diet, and ocular symptoms and tear volume, with age, ethnicity and gender as covariates.
Results: 231 subjects, average age 29.0 ± 22.3 years (76 males: 155 females) and average OSDI 22.7 ± 25.9 completed the assessments. Asians were more symptomatic than non-Asians (29.2 ± 29.6 vs. 18.7 ± 22.1, p < 0.01), females were more symptomatic than males (25.0 ± 38.8 vs. 19.5 ± 25.0, p = 0.03) and one year increase in age was associated with 0.51 unit increase in OSDI score (p = 0.02). In Asian males, unit increase in consumption of oily fish was associated with a decrease in OSDI score by 0.25 units (p=0.04). In females, unit increase in weekly consumption of cereals was associated with 0.03mm increase in tear volume in Asians (p=0.01) and 0.01mm in non-Asians (p = 0.04), with every one year increase in age. Increase in consumption of extra food (sweets, soft drink, alcohol) was associated with decrease in tear volume irrespective of ethnicity and gender (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Increased consumption of oily fish and cereal had small but significant effects on reducing ocular symptoms and increasing tear volume respectively. Nutritional advice, including minimising consumption of extra food may be helpful in the overall management of patients with symptomatic dry eye.
Original languageEnglish
Pages1-1
Number of pages1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2022
Externally publishedYes
EventBCLA Clinical Conference - virtual
Duration: 13 Jun 202114 Jun 2021
https://www.bcla.org.uk/Public/Public/Events/2021-Conference-Pages/BCLA-Conference-2021-Home.aspx

Conference

ConferenceBCLA Clinical Conference
Period13/06/2114/06/21
Internet address

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