Researchers find treating dry eye disease reduces migraine severity

Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia have examined the effect of treating dry eye disease on migraine severity.

Writing in Optometry and Vision Science, the scientists outlined how a group of 33 participants were recruited with dry eye disease and either chronic migraine or episodic migraine. A total of 24 participants completed all visits.

The participants instilled either Systane Hydration UD or saline eye drops four times per day for four weeks.

Following the treatment period, researchers reported a “clinical meaningful change” in migraine severity as measured by Headache Impact Test 6 (HIT-6). Improvements in HIT-6 scores among study participants varied from a reduction 3–3.9 point reduction.

Both types of drops reduced migraine severity while also improving dry eye disease.

“Applying this outcome to clinical practice suggests that, where dry eye disease and migraine coexist, the severity of both conditions may be reduced by the use of readily available ocular lubricants as a possible treatment option in some patients,” the authors highlighted.