September 11, 2025
1 min read
Key takeaways:
- Patients who took Blink NutriTears had a significantly lower MMP-9 positivity rate than those on placebo after 8 weeks.
- Corneal and conjunctival staining also significantly decreased.
MINNEAPOLIS — Daily use of Blink NutriTears led to significant reductions in inflammation related to dry eye disease within 8 weeks, according to a poster presented at Optometry’s Meeting.
“What’s great about this study is that we showed within 56 days … improvement of the MMP-9 scores, which is indicative of reduction of inflammation,” Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, IFMCP, FOWNS, of Integrative Vision, New Jersey, told Healio. “That also is substantiated with the conjunctival and corneal staining.”
Gioia analyzed how taking a Blink NutriTears (Bausch + Lomb) capsule once daily at breakfast time affected markers of inflammation in 77 patients with dry eye disease after 8 weeks. She compared their levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), as well as corneal and conjunctival staining, to those of 78 patients given placebo. The final analysis included 57 patients and 59 patients, respectively.
Over the course of the study, the MMP-9 positivity rate fell significantly in patients on Blink NutriTears compared with placebo (P < .001 in both eyes). With Blink NutriTears, positivity decreased 67.4% in the right eye and 61.4% in the left eye, while with placebo, it increased 6.7% in the right eye and 8.7% in the left eye.
Corneal and conjunctival staining also decreased significantly with Blink NutriTears compared with placebo (P < .001 for both).
Two adverse events, neither requiring medical intervention, were reported in patients on Blink NutriTears. One patient discontinued treatment due to an adverse event possibly caused “by a preexisting sensitivity to vitamin D3 supplementation,” according to the poster.
“This really highlights how the lutein, zeaxanthin, curcumin and vitamin D3 in NutriTears can affect inflammation and address dry eye,” Gioia said.
For more information:
Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, IFMCP, FOWNS, can be reached at info@integrativevision.com.
Sources/Disclosures
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Gioia N. Intervening in the dry eye inflammatory cycle with a daily oral nutritional supplement. Presented at: Optometry’s Meeting; June 25-28, 2025; Minneapolis.
Disclosures:
Gioia reports consulting for Bausch + Lomb.
