Effect of Sunflower Lecithin Supplementation on Meibomian Gland Function in Adults With Dry Eye Disease

Inclusion Criteria: * Age greater than18 at the time of informed consent * Clinical diagnosis of dry eye in both eyes * Fluorescein tear film break-up time (TBUT) less than 10s in both eyes * The presence of lid margin scaling, telangiectasia, collarette or meibomian gland plugging on slit-lamp examination * Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, Snellen) of 20/40 or better in each eye * Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire score \>6 to \<14 * Must understand; be willing and able, and likely to fully comply with study procedures, visit schedule, and restrictions Exclusion Criteria: * Any pre-existing ocular disease other than dry eye disease * Patients with inability to swallow soft gel capsules * Severe illness, pregnancy or breastfeeding, smoking, and regular use of strongly anticholinergic drugs. * Drastic change of food and/or food supplements within the last month. * Other food supplement with fatty acids * Evidence of acute ocular infection and⁄or intraocular inflammation within 1 month prior to the onset of this study. * Ocular surgery within the last 6 months. * Patients treated with topical ocular, steroidal or non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory treatment within the last month. * Occlusion therapy with lacrimal or punctum plugs within the last 3 months. * Alterations of the lacrimal drainage system * Eyelid abnormalities * Patients on oral tetracycline or corticosteroids * Active allergy or infection at the ocular surface