Recently Diagnosed or Relapsed? Stop Looking For a Miracle Cure, and Use Evidence-Based Therapies To Enhance Your Treatment and Prolong Your Remission
Multiple Myeloma an incurable disease, but I have spent the last 25 years in remission using a blend of conventional oncology and evidence-based nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle therapies from peer-reviewed studies that your oncologist probably hasn't told you about.
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Multiple Myeloma Treatment- Dry Eye
“Dry eye disease deserves serious professional — and personal — attention…Untreated, severe dry eye disease can result in scarring, ulceration, infection and even perforation of the cornea…”
Why is a multiple myeloma survivor and MM cancer coach blogging about dry eye (DE)? I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that multiple myeloma patients experience dry eye at a higher rate than average. The good news is that omega-3 fatty acids can sooth dry eye.
More good news. Omega-3 fatty acids are an integrative multiple myeloma treatment. Research shows that omega-3’s enhance the efficacy of Velcade (Bortezomib) while killing MM cells.
A sort of bad news is that my read of the top study linked below, doctors don’t know why MM patients experience more dry eye than everyone else. I myself have had cataract surgery in both eyes so I chalk up my dry eye to that.
As the study linked and excerpted below explains, omega 3 fatty acids “have a definite role for dry eye syndrome…” As a long-term MM survivor and cancer coach I believe that if a supplement demonstrates multiple therapies then all the better.
Omega-3 aka fish oil is first and foremost, is cytotoxic to MM and therefore a preventive therapy. If fish oil makes you eyes feel better at the same time then we all win.
The fact of the matter is that there are more than 18 different evidence-based, non-toxic nutritional supplements that are cytotoxic to MM. Many of these same supplements also enhance the efficacy of MM chemotherapy regimens.
I take Life Extension Super Omega-3 EPA/DHA w/ Sesame Lignans and Olive Extract daily for heart, brain, anti-cancer and now for my eye health. Awesome…
Please scroll down the page, post a question or comment about dry eye disease, fish oil, etc. and I will reply to you ASAP.
Thank you
David Emerson
- Multiple Myeloma Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
- Myeloma Chemotherapy-Omega-3s- Kill Myeloma Enhance Chemotherapy
- Arthritis, Multiple Myeloma Therapy Two-fer
- Dry Eye, Dry Eye Syndrome, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Ocular disorders in multiple myeloma patients: cross-sectional study of prevalence and association with treatment.
Multiple myeloma (MM) therapy is evolving, and several new drugs are now available, extending patients’ life and exposure to different compounds and toxicities.
We conducted a cross-sectional observational study enrolling 93 consecutive patients on active treatment for MM, aiming to assess their ocular complications.
All the patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. In our cohort, prevalence of low visual acuity was in line with similar age healthy population reported in registry studies.
Interestingly, we recorded a higher prevalence of lens opacities (46%) and dry eye syndrome (53%). Nevertheless, we did not find any significant association between ocular disorders and anti-myeloma treatments, even steroid therapy.
This observation suggests that other factors besides treatments, such as M-protein deposition in eye structures, may have a role in developing ocular toxicities. Since MM patients are elderly patients at higher risk of age-related eye disorders, we recommend periodic ophthalmic assessment in daily practice.
Dry Eyes Deserve Attention
“Putting carboxymethylcellulose sodium in one’s eyes two, three or more times a day may not sound like a great experience. But I can assure you that it can be. Drops of this chemical, called a topical lubricant, help to keep my eyes from burning, avoiding bright lights, becoming red and itchy, and generally feeling miserable.
Like tens of millions of Americans, especially women older than 50, I have DE disease, medically known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca…
“DE disease deserves serious professional — and personal — attention. It can be very debilitating and seriously diminish a person’s quality of life.” Untreated, severe DE disease can result in scarring, ulceration, infection and even perforation of the cornea…
A randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids in dry eye syndrome
“AIM-To evaluate the role of dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in DE syndrome…
RESULTS- Sixty-five percent of patients in the omega-3 group and 33% of patients in placebo group had significant improvement in symptoms at 3 months…
CONCLUSION-Omega-3 fatty acids have a definite role for DE syndrome. The benefit seems to be more marked in conditions such as blepharitis and meibomian gland disease..”
Ask Well: Fish Oil Supplements for Dry Eye?
“My optometrist has me consuming fish oil supplements to reduce DE symptoms. Is there any evidence behind this recommendation?
There is a growing body of research supporting the use of fish oil supplements to treat dry eye, an uncomfortable condition that arises when the eye produces fewer tears. But “the jury is still out” on whether they work, said Dr. Penny Asbell,..
In the meantime, many doctors feel comfortable prescribing fish oil supplements based on current research…
The omega-3s in fish oil are believed to reduce inflammation. So if the dry eye is aggravated by inflammation of the eyelids or surfaces of the eye, it makes sense that a supplement would help, said Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, an ophthalmologist in private practice in Chesapeake, Va., and a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
“Dry eye is pretty complex, and there is no cure,” she said. “Treating the inflammation, however, can improve some of the symptoms.””