Vitamin D supplementation beneficial for dry eye disease patients

Written by Medha Baranwal Baranwal Published On 2019-06-02T19:15:22+05:30 | Updated On 19 Aug 2021 4:43 PM IST

Vitamin D supplements increase efficacy of lubricant eye preparations and help patients suffering from dry eye disease.

The effect of topical carbomer-based lipid-containing artificial tears (CLAT) and hyaluronate (HU) in dry eye disease (DED) was dependent on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and vitamin D supplementation enhanced the efficacy of topical lubricants for treatment of dry eye. These are the results from a retrospective, observational cohort study published in the journal Cornea.

Vitamin D supplements prevent rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation.

Jin Sun Hwang, Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, and colleagues conducted the study to investigate the efficacy of topical CLAT and HU in patients with dry eye disease (DED) based on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25HD) levels and cholecalciferol (vitamin D) supplementation.

Researchers evaluated 116 patients with DED, who were divided into vitamin D deficiency (VDD) group (<12 ng/mL; n=52) or non-VDD group (≥12 ng/mL; n=64) according to their serum 25HD levels. Based on patient's choice, they were randomly assigned to receive intramuscular (IM) vitamin D (200,000 IU) (VDD; n=46 and non-VDD; n=48) or 2000 IU oral vitamin D (VDD; n=5 and non-VDD; n=4).

Patients who did not want to take any supplements were observed only with eye drops (n=8). Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, visual analog pain scale score, lid hyperemia, tear breakup time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining score and Schirmer test were compared between baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment after topical applications and between before and after cholecalciferol supplementation.

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Key findings of the study include:

After 2 weeks, OSDI and visual analog pain scale scores decreased in both VDD and non-VDD groups after application of topical CLAT and HU compared with baseline.

There was no improvement in TBUT, corneal fluorescein staining score and lid hyperaemia from baseline in the VDD group by topical CLAT and HU, whereas those in the non-VDD group showed significant improvement from baseline (3.2 ± 1.7 vs 4.1 ± 2.2; 0.5 ± 0.7 vs 0.4 ± 0.6, and 2.2 ± 0.8 vs 1.9 ± 0.7, respectively).

There was a significant improvement in OSDI score, TBUT, and lid margin hyperemia in the IM group after cholecalciferol supplementation compared with pre-treatment (33.2 ± 23.2 vs 28.5 ± 21.9; 3.5 ± 1.9 vs 6.0 ± 2.5 and 2.2 ± 0.7 vs 1.2 ± 0.8).

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The vitamin D supplementation may relieve sign and symptoms on ocular surface in DED. It keeps the tear film and ocular surface smooth and healthy, as well as reduces inflammation," explained the authors, adding that, "The effect of topical lubricants depends on the serum 25HD levels. Vitamin D supplementation can be used as potential adjuvant therapy for patients with DED."

For detailed study log on to 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001822

cholecalciferolCornea journaldiseasedisorderdry eyedry eye diseaseEyeeye diseasehyaluronateJin Sun Hwanglipid containing artificial tearslubricantssupplementationtopical lubricantsVitamin DVitamin D Supplementation

Source : With inputs from Cornea

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Medha Baranwal Baranwal