Curcumin-Based Supplement for Vitreous Floaters Post-Nd:YAG Capsulotomy: A Pilot Study.

Background

To evaluate the short-term effects of a dietary supplement containing curcumin, bromelain, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, sodium hyaluronate, type II collagen, and vitamin C on symptomatic vitreous floaters (SVFs) following Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.

Methods

Forty eyes with SVFs on the first postoperative day were randomized into a control group (standard topical therapy, n = 20) and a treatment group (oral supplement plus standard therapy, n = 20). Outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), and subjective scores from a non-standardized questionnaire on floater perception (QS1), interference with daily activities (QS2), and foreign body sensation (QS3). Objective evaluation was performed using two novel ultrasound-based methods: mean number of vitreous peaks (MVP) from A-scans and mean grey intensity (MGI) from B-scan images processed with ImageJ.

Results

At 2 months, the treatment group showed greater improvement in CS (Δ = 0.26 LogCS, CI, 0.14-0.38; p < 0.01), QS1 (Δ = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.60-1.60; p < 0.01), QS2 (Δ = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.40-1.40; p < 0.01), QS3 (Δ = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.44-1.36; p < 0.01), MVP (Δ = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.60-1.60; p < 0.01), and MGI (Δ = 12.89 units; 95% CI, 7.84-17.93; p < 0.01). BCVA was comparable between groups (p = 0.478).

Conclusions

Short-term dietary supplementation with vitreous-specific nutrients is well tolerated and associated with improvements in reducing SVFs and foreign body sensations after Nd:YAG capsulotomy and may represent a promising non-invasive therapeutic option.