TheraTears® Nutrition Improves Dry Eye Signs and Symptoms in Clinical Trial

WOBURN, Mass., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Vision Research, Inc. today announced the publication in the journal Cornea of promising results from a pilot trial of dry eye patients taking TheraTears® Nutrition. The study demonstrated a reduction in dry eye symptoms and an increase in tear volume and tear flow for those patients taking TheraTears® Nutrition, an optimized blend of medical grade essential omega-3 oils, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and flaxseed oil.  Symptomatic dry eye patients received the omega-3 supplement and 70% reported having no symptoms of dry eye after 90 days, as measured by a validated test called the Ocular Surface Disease Index.  In the placebo group, only 7% had a complete reduction of symptoms.  The study also demonstrated that supplementation with TheraTears® Nutrition, when compared to placebo, resulted in 0.10 microliters/min higher tear flow and 0.94 microliters higher tear volume, two objective parameters key to the improvement of disease in patients with dry eye.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110124/FL34549)

"This study demonstrates the potential of TheraTears® Nutrition in reducing the debilitating effects of dry eye from both the patient and physician perspective," said James P. McCulley, senior author of the Cornea article and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX. "It is particularly interesting to see these clinical results, since we know that omega-3s have been shown to reduce the effects of inflammation and influence the composition of the tear film, two factors that play an important role in dry eye.  While this provides interesting insight into the effects of supplementation on dry eye disease, more research should be done to fully understand how these omega-3s work on a cellular level."

About Dry Eye & Omega 3 Supplements

Dry eye of any severity affects approximately 20 million people in the U.S. and is among the most common disorders treated by ophthalmologists throughout the world.  Dry eye typically involves reduced tear production or excessive tear evaporation and is associated with varying degrees of severity, duration and etiologies.

Until recently, the treatment approach for dry eye has primarily been with topical agents.  However, several studies have established an association between the systemic use of omega-3 supplements and dry eye. Most notably, the Women's Health Study of 32,470 women conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that those with a higher intake of omega-3s had a lower risk of dry eye.  Essential omega-3s are thought to address the underlying causes of dry eye by reducing inflammation, decreasing lacrimal gland and ocular surface apoptosis, and stimulating tear secretion.  

About TheraTears® Nutrition*

TheraTears® Nutrition is an omega-3 dietary supplement containing two types of omega-3 fatty acids-  pharmaceutical-grade, molecularly distilled, mercury-free fish oil (450 mg of EPA, 300 mg of DHA) and organically-grown, lignan-free flaxseed oil (1000 mg), as well as 183 IU of vitamin E.  It is believed that the omega-3s in TheraTears® Nutrition work synergistically to decrease inflammation and augment the oil and water layers in the tear film. Vitamin E prevents oxidation and counters the depletion of vitamin E levels that occurs over time with the intake of omega-3s.

TheraTears® Nutrition is available at major drug and retail stores nationwide.

About Advanced Vision Research, Inc.

Advanced Vision Research, Inc. was founded in 1987 by the late Jeffrey P. Gilbard, MD, a renowned clinician and researcher who dedicated his life to the innovation of novel therapeutics for dry eye. While studying at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, the largest nonprofit institution in the world dedicated to the fight against blinding and painful eye conditions, Dr. Gilbard began a life-long mission to discover therapies that would treat dry eye disease. Based on these many years of scientific research and clinical evidence, Advanced Vision Research offers a unique line of products for consumers under the TheraTears® Brand.  Additional information is available at www.theratears.com.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

SOURCE Advanced Vision Research, Inc.