Manuka honey dry eye treatment trialled

A study into manuka honey as a treatment for dry eye demonstrated promising results, according to an article in the Clinical and Experimental Optometry Journal.

It found that manuka honey made a significant improvement in ocular surface disease index, standard patient evaluation of eye dryness, the tear evaporation rate, ocular surface staining, the amount of lubricant used daily, and resulted in a lowered rate of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels.

Changes in tear film quality, ocular surface characteristics and adverse events were analysed in 288 adult participants with dry eye from five eligible randomised controlled trials.

However, the research team advised: ‘Further high-quality randomised clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of the use of manuka honey in the treatment of dry eye.’