Omega-3 fats ward off dry eyes

9-2-2005 - Women who eat fatty fish, flaxseed, or take omega-3 supplements may have better tear production

A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may decrease women's risk of developing dry eye syndrome, a condition that occurs when the tear glands produce fewer tears.
The symptoms of dry eye syndrome range from mild irritation and a sensation of something in the eye, to severe discomfort and sensitivity to light.

Researchers led by Dr. Jeffrey Gilbard, an eye specialist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, studied more than 32,000 female health-care professionals and found that those with the highest intake of omega-3 fats had a 17 per cent lower risk of developing dry eye syndrome compared with those who ate the least amount.

Women who ate five or six servings of tuna per week had a 66 per cent lower risk of developing dry eye syndrome than women who ate fewer than two servings per week.

Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel and tuna are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed is another source and one can also increase their omega-3 intake through supplementation.

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