Omega-3 and Fish Oil and Your Eyes

Adding omega-3 fatty acids to the diet, especially in the form of fish, can help prevent the development of age-related macular degeneration vision loss by more than 30%.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50. This is an eye disease that attacks the central part of the retina called the macula, which controls fine, detailed vision.

Previous research has shown that a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids and fish may slow the progression of macular degeneration in those in the advanced stages of the disease.

You should try to consume about 3 ounces of Atlantic salmon or 5 ounces of rainbow trout per week.

Since omega-3 fatty acids cannot be manufactured by the body, it is essential that people get them through their diet or additional supplementation.

If you are opposed to fish or are a vegetarian you can obtain omega-3 fatty acids through nuts, which also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and may also reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. These diseases are linked to AMD.

There are more studies are underway to investigate the role of the diet and AMD. AREDS2, a five-year randomized trial involving 4,000 people will test the effectiveness of supplementing with certain antioxidants and/or omega-3 fatty acids on the progression to advanced AMD. Stay tuned for updates on the AREDS2 study.