Optom Vis Sci

Ocular lubricants reduce migraine severity in patients with dry eyes

April 22, 2025

Treating dry eye disease with ocular lubricants can effectively reduce migraine severity, offering a dual benefit for patients suffering from both conditions.

Study details: This randomized, double-masked, crossover trial included 24 participants with both migraine and dry eye disease. Participants received either Systane Hydration UD (Alcon) or saline eye drops (NeilMed) QID x 4 weeks each, with a 2-week washout period between treatments. Migraine severity was assessed using the Headache Impact Test 6 (HIT-6) and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaires, while dry eye disease was evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 (DEQ-5), tear breakup time, tear osmolarity, and corneal surface integrity.

Results: At baseline, most participants experienced severe disability due to their headaches, with HIT-6 averaging 60 and MIDAS 21. They also had moderate dry eye severity (mean OSDI, 32 ± 18). Ocular lubrication significantly reduced migraine severity, with HIT-6 scores decreasing by 3.0 points for Systane Hydration UD (p=0.01) and 3.9 points for saline (p=0.002). Both treatments also led to significant improvements in dry eye symptoms, including reductions in OSDI, DEQ-5 scores, and corneal staining.

Source:

Md Isa NA, et al. (2025, April 1). Optom Vis Sci. A randomized crossover trial: The impact of ocular lubrication on migraine severity in persons with dry eye disease and migraine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40019480/