Headache and Pain Syndromes

Dry Eye Disease Treatment Can Reduce Concomitant Migraine Severity

Vincent Soreca
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Publish Date
HIT-6 metrics of migraine severity are significantly lowered when coexisting dry eye disease is successfully managed with ocular lubrication.

Successfully treating dry eye disease with ocular lubricants significantly reduces migraine severity, according to a randomized crossover trial published in Optometry and Vision Science.

Researchers enrolled a total of 33 participants with migraine who met the criteria for coexistent dry eye disease. Of the 33 participants, 24 (20 women, 4 men) completed all visits and were included in the analysis. The average age of the participants was 47 years.

The participants received either Systane Hydration UD (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) or saline eye drops (NeilMed, Santa Rosa, CA) 4 times daily for 4 weeks each, with a 2-week washout period between treatments. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and after using the first and second drops.

The researchers found that ocular lubrication was significantly associated with reduced migraine severity and dry eye disease.

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Applying this outcome to clinical practice suggests that, where dry eye disease and migraine coexist, the severity of both conditions may be reduced by the use of readily available ocular lubricants as a possible treatment option in some patients.

The Headache Impact Test 6 (HIT-6) score was reduced from baseline with use of Systane Hydration UD (mean change, Δ=-3.0, P =.01) and saline (Δ=-3.9, P =.002).

Dry eye disease symptoms and corneal staining were reduced with use of Systane Hydration UD (OSDI Δ=-8.3, P =.004; DEQ-5 Δ=-2.1, P =.004; corneal staining Δ=-2.2, P =.001) and saline (OSDI Δ=-6.4, P =.03; DEQ-5 Δ=-1.5, P =.03; corneal staining Δ=-1.5, P =.005).

“Treating dry eye disease with ocular lubrication is associated with a significant reduction in migraine disability as measured by the HIT-6,” according to the researchers. “Applying this outcome to clinical practice suggests that, where dry eye disease and migraine coexist, the severity of both conditions may be reduced by the use of readily available ocular lubricants as a possible treatment option in some patients.”

This study was limited by most participants having severe migraine disability as indicated by the HIT-6 and Migraine Disability Assessment scores.

This research was supported by Alcon Laboratories. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.

This article originally appeared on Optometry Advisor

References:

Md Isa NA, Krishnan AV, Zagami AS, et al. A randomized crossover trial: The impact of ocular lubrication on migraine severity in persons with dry eye disease and migraine. Optom Vis Sci. Published online April 1, 2025. doi:10.1097/OPX.0000000000002241