An increasing number of studies show that omega-3 fatty acids are great for your eyes. Previous studies have shown that these oils, which are found in rich levels in wild fish, can help prevent your eyes from drying out.
Now, new studies are showing that these oils may protect you from macular degeneration and a collection of inherited eye diseases known as “retinitis pigmentosa.”
“Docosahexaenoic acid,” which is a type of omega-3, is suspected to play a key role in protecting the eyes from oxidative damage to their cells. This may help prolong eyesight by warding off blindness.
Although there have been many studies on omega-3s in age-related macular degeneration, works focusing on retinitis pigmentosa are just now surfacing. This condition affects the rods and cones in the eyes and it can slowly degrade a person’s peripheral vision.
Over time, it’s like looking at the world through a small circle. Luckily, studies show that combinations of omega-3 supplements with vitamin A can help protect eyes from this genetic condition.
In 2004, a study showed that people taking vitamin A therapy could benefit from an extra dose of docosahexaenoic acid. When patients taking the combination therapy were compared to those taking vitamin A therapy and placebo oil, researchers found that vision declined more slowly over two years in those taking the acid and vitamin combo.
Researchers found that patients with retinitis pigmentosa could slow the decline of their disease for as long as two years with a combined therapy of 1,200 mg of docosahexaenoic acid and 15,000 IU per day of vitamin A. Research showed that a diet rich in fish could also slow down this disease, especially when paired with vitamin A therapy.