Targeted nutrition can significantly reduce ‘eye floaters’ as well as their associated discomforts, in certain patients, according to a study published in the ARVO Journal, Translational Vision Science and Technology (TVST).
The Floater Intervention Study (FLIES) study, was led by the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI, Waterford Institute of Technology). It was the first double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with primary floaters that demonstrated reduction in floater suffering as well as improvements in visual function in the active group compared to placebo, following a six-month dietary intervention with a formulation consisting of 125mg l-lysine, 40mg vitamin C, 26.3mg Vitis vinifera extract, 5mg zinc, and 100mg Citrus aurantium.
Dr Emmanuel Ankamah, the main researcher on the FLIES trial, said the trial provides evidence to support the use of targeted nutritional intervention as a management strategy for vitreous floaters. “This gives us more confidence that using antioxidative and antiglycation micronutrients can improve vitreous health.”
Professor John Nolan, Director of the NRCI and Principal Investigator of the FLIES trial, said, “Notably, a large percentage of patients (77%) on the active supplement, demonstrated a reduction in vitreous floaters and associated improvements in vision-related quality of life was seen in 67% of patients.”
Acknowledging that not all participants on the active arm of the trial experienced improvements, he said the team looked forward to continuing their research and strongly advised patients to seek advice from a qualified eye care professional.
