Role of oral bio-enhanced curcumin in dry eye disease

To assess the role of oral bio-enhanced curcumin in dry eye disease (DED).

Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical study conducted at a tertiary eye center.

Forty patients of bilateral mild to moderate DED were randomized in two groups - group A (topical carboxy methyl cellulose QID + oral placebo) and group B (topical carboxy methyl cellulose QID + oral bio-enhanced curcumin). The objective parameters of DED were quantified at baseline and compared at 3 months follow-up.

At three months follow-up, there was significant improvement in curcumin group in terms of Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score ( P = 0.002), tear meniscus height (TMH) ( P = 0.002), tear volume ( P = 0.006), tear break-up time (TBUT) ( P < 0.001), non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) ( P = 0.026), lipid layer thickness (LLT) ( P = 0.01), and decrease in bulbar redness ( P = 0.002). There was no significant improvement in limbal redness ( P = 0.097), corneal-staining score ( P = 0.93), and Schirmer's test ( P = 0.42). Mild adverse drug reaction was observed in three cases of the curcumin group and one case of group A.

Oral bio-enhanced curcumin is a safe and effective treatment modality in cases of mild to moderate DED. It effectively improves the tear film stability, LLT, and TMH and reduces the bulbar redness.