The Role of Omega-3s in Preventing Dry Eye

Dry eye disease can, at its most severe, be life-limiting. The scratchy, burning, and often incessant watering that are typical symptoms—not to mention blurred vision, light sensitivity, and eye fatigue—can mess with every aspect of day-to-day activities.

Using supplements containing omega-3 for dry eye care is believed to help improve the problem. Even better, adding natural sources into your diet, such as oily fish, flax and chia seeds, walnuts, leafy greens, and soybeans, is the gold standard, and can really make a difference in both preventing it from occurring and managing symptoms if you suffer. 

But why does omega-3 help? Well, it’s all down to the fatty acids it contains that help reduce inflammation. Any cursory online search for the role of fish oil in eye health will return multiple results, mostly extolling the virtues (and no doubt result in you being bombarded by extensive, targeted online advertising as well) …

The Case for Dry Eye Nutrition and High Levels of Omega-3

Dry eye has been, and continues to be, the subject of much research. The number of Americans who suffer is high, with the condition estimated to be over 16 million, according to the National Eye Institute. Post-menopausal women are most at risk, but other factors include:

• Wearing contact lenses.
• Having an autoimmune condition.
• Eating a diet low in omega-3s and vitamin A.

Dry eye occurs through a chronic cycle that begins with eye tissue inflammation that causes proteins, called cytokines, to be released. These have a negative effect on the eye’s ability to produce enough tears, or those of the right quality, leading to insufficient eye lubrication and all the nasty symptoms that go hand-in-hand. This creates further inflammation. And so the cycle continues…

Omega-3 has a strong effect on reducing inflammation within the body. As this is the root cause of dry eye disease, if this is addressed, then the issue can—if not be resolved completely—be improved.

While the role of omega-3 in treating dry eye is not yet entirely definitive, multiple studies are leaning heavily towards its efficacy. One example, published by the National Library of Medicine, concluded that omega-3 supplements for eye moisture regulation taken at high doses and for prolonged periods were likely to have a beneficial effect.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can dispense with other treatment options. Using artificial tears, warm compresses, and gentle massage are all known to help. For the most severe cases, there are also surgical options. But making dietary changes to increase the level of omega-3, be it through supplements or food, is easy and non-invasive. Plus, the anti-inflammatory effect will be advantageous to your entire body, as well as your eyes.

Be Aware: Not all Omega-3 Supplements are Equal

 The world of supplements is a bit of a minefield. When choosing a supplement containing fish oils specifically for eye health, you need to look for ones that have high concentrations of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and DPA (docosapentaenoic acid). There’s also emerging evidence that omega-7 fatty acids can also help with dry eye so, if you can find one that also contains this, then so much the better.

While nothing is better than getting a natural source of omega-3 from food, adding a good quality supplement to your diet comes a close second.

Treating dry eye, reducing symptoms, and preventing it from returning is always best approached with an in-person eye examination. At the West Boca Eye Center, it’s something we can initially assess through a routine eye appointment, from which we devise a stepwise treatment plan that begins with a conservative approach.

Visit https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/services/routine-eye-care and call today to book a consultation.

Dry eye disease can, at its most severe, be life-limiting. The scratchy, burning, and often incessant watering that are typical symptoms—not to mention blurred vision, light sensitivity, and eye fatigue—can mess with every aspect of day-to-day activities.

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