Effects of intranasal administration of violet oil in dry eye disease.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye disease is a disorder of the tear film. In this study, the effect of Viola odorata L. oily extract was examined for the treatment of patients suffering from dry eye disease.

METHODS: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed. During the trial, Schirmer's test, tear breakup time, Oxford staining and the Ocular Surface Disease Index were assessed. Overall, 105 patients with dry eye symptoms between the ages of 18 and 60 years were allocated to the violet-almond oil, almond oil and placebo (1% w/v hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution) groups. The treatment and placebo were administered intranasally, two drops three times a day for one month. The patients were followed up for four weeks. A total of 91 patients (32, 29 and 30 in the violet-almond oil, almond oil and placebo groups, respectively) completed the study.

RESULTS: At baseline, there was no difference between the three groups in terms of demographic data and the measurement parameters. After the intervention, the results revealed that the Schirmer's score without local anaesthesia and the tear breakup time results significantly improved in the violet-almond oil group. One-way ANOVA indicated a significant improvement in the Schirmer's score, tear breakup time and Ocular Surface Disease Index of the treatment group, as compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). However, the obtained results did not present any significant mean difference between and within the groups of the Oxford staining grade (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This trial showed that the intranasally administered V. odorata L. oily extract enhances tear production and improves tear film stability.