New research found that omega-3 fatty acid supplements may improve patients' vision of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease within 24 weeks.

This eye condition is most common among people 60 years old and above and may cause vision loss in the long run. Experts clarify that dry AMD is different from dry eyes, which means those who suffer from the latter do not have higher chances of developing the former.

Omega-3 Supplements May Improve Vision of Patients With Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration
(Photo : Pixabay/stevepb)
Omega-3 Supplements May Improve Vision of Patients With Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

What is Dry AMD?

According to the National Eye Institute, dry AMD is an eye disorder that blurs central vision. It is caused by the damage to the part of the eye called the macula that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. Aging is the primary cause of macular degeneration that may lead to vision loss.

That is why AMD is very common among the elderly and it's the leading cause of vision loss among them. Although the condition does not necessarily mean complete blindness, it causes the loss of central vision that makes it harder to see faces, read, drive, and do daily tasks.

It happens gradually and usually does not have any symptoms during the early stage. Doctors recommend that older people have regular eye exams to determine if they already have AMD due to this. The risk for AMD increases as people reach the age of 55 and is higher among those with a history of AMD, Caucasians, and smokers.

Previous research shows that it is possible to lower the risk of AMD by making healthy choices, like quitting smoking, getting regular physical activity, maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and eating healthy foods like leafy vegetables and fish.

ALSO READ: Eye Health: Sleep Deprivation Induces Dry Eyes by Disturbing the Tear Film

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Role in Improving Vision Among Dry AMD Patients

The study titled "A prospective, multicentre, randomized, double-blind study designed to assess the potential effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in dry age-related macular degeneration or Stargardt disease," that was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2022, revealed that omega-3 fatty acids have a positive effect on dry AMD patients.

The findings implicate the popular benefits of the supplement in preventing and even reversing vision loss among patients of common chronic ophthalmic diseases with minimal safety risks, HCP Live reported.

Pharmacology assistant professor Katerina Prokopiou, Ph.D., the study lead author from the University of Nicosia Medical School, and colleagues said that the experiment aims to find an effective therapeutic intervention in patients with vision loss due to retinal degeneration.

 According to Healio, the team investigated the effect of omega-3 fatty acids in a randomized controlled trial in 21 participants, who either received a placebo or active omega-3 within 24 weeks. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire during the 12th and 24th weeks of the experiment.

The team found that the active group had increased best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) by 46.93 letters from 40.93 letters within 24 weeks compared to the placebo group, which displayed no significant increase.

Therefore, the team concluded that omega-3 fatty acid supplements rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) could effectively improve objective and subjective vision in patients with AMD.


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