A. KHALIL**, MERVAT A. ALY*, S.M. SHERIF*^#, MONA S. TAALAT**, A.M. SALLAM**

* Biophysics and Laser Science Unit, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt
** Biophysics Branch, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt

Dry eye is a multifactorial condition that affects the surface of the eye and induces an inflammatory response that affects the cornea. Recent studies have shown beneficial effects of dietary supplementation and/or topical application of olive oil and flax seed oil containing omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, for dry eye condition treatment. In this study, the effects of the induced dry eye condition and the topical application of olive oil and flax seed oil on the tear film structure was monitored after 4 and 8 days of application. The tear film analysis was accomplished by the application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results demonstrated that dry eye, induced by 0.1% benzalkonium chloride (BK), was found to induce changes in the tear film structure (fatty acid and protein components) through destruction and formation of new hydrogen bond that specially appeared in the NH, OH, amide I and fingerprint regions, and the topical uses of olive oil and flax seed oil for 8 days have reversed theses effects on tear film constituents.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: sheri_sm@yahoo.com

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