Treatment of dry eyes includes prescription eye drops or anti-inflammatory properties of different medications.
Nevertheless, many of us turn to alternatives such as fish oil to help us.
Various treatments ease symptoms, including over-the-counter artificial tear eye drops.
In recent years, a possible remedy is fish oil.
Fish oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids that support healthy eye development and numerous other health advantages.
To help with pain prevention and to help reduce fatigue and stress.
Read on to learn more about how it may help reduce symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
What is dry eye?
Dry eye disease tends to be a chronic condition, and it usually cannot be cured completely.
It can occur if you don’t have enough tears or the tears lack the right balance of water, oil, and mucus to spread evenly without evaporating too quickly.
If tears are not of sufficient quantity or quality to maintain that layer, dry eye disease (also called ocular surface disease) can develop.
Causes
The dry eye becomes more common with age.
Some women develop dry eye disease during menopause due to hormonal changes.
Other people develop dry eye disease from living in a windy, dry environment or working in a building with constant air conditioning, exposure to sun, tobacco smoke, cold or allergy medicines.
Symptoms
Dry eye symptoms can be bothersome and may include:
- A stinging, itchy, or burning sensation in your eye.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Blurred vision.
- Mucus in or around your eye.
- Excessive tearing.
DE disease tends to be a chronic condition, and it usually cannot be cured completely. Your eye doctor can make an accurate dry eye assessment.
Treatments
Common treatments for DE include over-the-counter eye drops and anti-inflammatory drugs. But some people turn to alternative remedies like fish oil for relief.
Health Benefits of fish oil for dry eyes
Omega-3 fish oil can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Omega-3 fish oil may also help manage your triglyceride levels. Taking in a sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty acids has many benefits, including a lower risk for heart, stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Omega 3 fish oil also help manage your triglyceride levels and may slow the progression of depression and other mental illnesses.
It appears that omega 3 fish oil can improve the eye’s oil film produced by small glands on the edge of the eyelid, called the meibomian glands. That improves DE symptoms and reduces the need for artificial tears.
Research suggests that taking an omega 3 fish oil supplement can reduce symptoms of dry eye.
Omega-3 has many beneficial health effects due to antioxidant and antiseptic effects. This oil is extracted from two types of omega 3s from the skin of oily fish like mackerel or salmon. These omega 3 fatty acids are called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
The omega-3s DHA and EPA are vital for several functions and are Trusted sources in the body. DHA and EPA are part of every cell in the human body.
They’re also the benefits of omega 3 fatty acid supplements. I have found fewer dry eye symptoms in people who take the supplement.
It appears that omega-3 can improve the eye’s oil film produced by small glands on the edge of the eyelid, called the meibomian glands. That improves dry eye symptoms and reduces the need for artificial tears.
These powerful nutrients have been extensively researched and shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and arthritis.
What are the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids?
According to the National Eye Institute, while artificial tears and ointments are the most common treatments for dry eye, some patients find relief from consuming omega 3 fatty acids.
Omega 3s are available in capsule form and liquid forms, and can be consumed naturally by eating salmon, sardines, herring, tuna.
Taking a high-quality, daily supplement is a safe way to boost our diet with the essential omega 3 that have many good effects on dry eyes and general health, especially if we don’t eat enough of it each week.
Two studies on omega 3 fatty acids and eye care showed:
DHA is an essential part of enhancing the visual functions of the eyes. Various studies suggest omega-3s might help with macular degeneration.
Omega-3s found in fish oil have many health benefits, including protecting against heart disease, fighting inflammation, and improving mental health and mood. Omega 3s are also beneficial for eye health.
DHA (a type of omega-3 fatty acid) is a structural component of the eye’s retinas. Omega-3s may help prevent vision impairment and blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration.
NEI Omega-3 fatty acid supplements taken orally proved no better than placebo at relieving symptoms or signs of dry eye, according to the findings of a well-controlled trial funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI)
Fish oil supplements and dry eyes
About omega 3 fatty acids. (2020). nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/things-to-know-about-omega-fatty-acids Bhargava R, et al. (2015). Oral omega 3 fatty acids treatment in computer vision syndrome-related dry eye. DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2015.01.007 Bhargava R, et al. (2016).
There was a randomized controlled trial of omega 3 in rosacea patients with DE symptoms. DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2015.1122810 Brasky TM, et al. (2013).
A recent literature review looked at several clinical trials within the past two decades regarding the efficacy of omega-3 on DED.
Trials included in this review consisted of randomized clinical trials, prospective comparative studies, and non-comparative interventional studies.
The study sample size ranged from 12 to 905, study duration from one to 12 months, and daily dosages from 360mg to 2,000mg of EPA and 240mg to 1,050mg of DHA. This review showed no significant difference in the mean change between the treatment and placebo group for OSDI score, conjunctival and corneal staining, TBUT, and Schirmer’s test.
On the other hand, a study in the International Journal of Ophthalmology concluded omega 3 fatty acids “have a definite role for dry eye syndrome. The omega-3s in fish oil seems to reduce inflammation.
Dry eye research
Research study A prospective, comparative pilot study in 2017 investigated the effects of oral omega-3 supplementation on central corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in DED.
Study participants received either omega-3 (1,000mg EPA plus 500mg DHA) or placebo (olive oil 1,500mg) daily for 90 days. The mean change in sub-basal plexus was quantified using in vivo confocal microscopy.
Those in the omega-3 group saw a reduction in OSDI score and tear osmolarity and an increase in corneal staining.
Overall, 61 percent in the omega-3 group and 54 percent in the control group achieved at least a 10-point improvement in their symptom score. Still, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant.
Likewise, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of improvement in signs of DE.
The results of the DREAM study do not support the use of omega-3 supplements for patients with moderate to severe DE disease, The study was funded by NEI grants U10EY022879 and U10EY022881. For more information about DE, visit www.nei.nih.gov/health/dryeye.
National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Dosage and preparation
There is currently no recommended daily dose for other types of omega-3s, such as EPA and DHA. However, a 250–500 milligram (mg) daily intake of EPA and DHA combined is enough for most adults.
There haven’t been any recommendations for daily consumption.
Currently, it’s recommended that the consumption of alpha-linolenic acid is 1 gram/day by men and 1.2 gram per day by women. 6. It is now possible to avoid eating omega-3s with other foods.
EPA and DHA can also be taken together in combination with other vitamins and minerals to help with digestion.
Get a consultation with the doctor about your treatment options.
Most health organizations recommend a daily intake of at least 250–500 milligrams of combined EPA and DHA.
A typical 1,000-mg softgel contains about 250 mg of combined EPA and DHA. One teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid has around 1,300 mg of omega 3. In general, people of all ages should take between 2,000mg and 3,000mg.
The dose of omega-3 fatty acid in many research studies included 180 milligrams of eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid, taken twice a day. Few side effects were noted at this level.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure success.
Increase Omega-3 Intake If you’re dealing with DE and want a permanent solution, consider this: increase your omega-3 intake. The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplemented with omega-3 help address dry eyes in the long term.
While you can take them as supplements (cod liver oil), the pills do not contain much DHA and EPA. You need around 2,000 mg of DHA and EPA daily, while each capsule may contain no more than 300mg.
Krill Oil
Like fish oil, krill oil is rich in EPA and DHA, the two types of omega 3 fatty acids that provide most of its health benefits. However, the fatty acids in krill oil are structurally different than those in fish oil, and this may impact the way the body uses them.
Krill oil also looks different than fish oil- which is typically a shade of yellow, a naturally occurring antioxidant called astaxanthin gives krill oil a reddish color.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed oil Not all omega-3s is equal. While foods like flax seeds do contain omega-3s, they’re different from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The body can convert ALA into needed EPA and DHA.
Still, this process is not very efficient: Less than 15 percent of Trusted Source of ALA makes the conversion.
Important considerations
If you eat fish and supplements regularly and are not getting enough nutrients, you may have dry eyes.
Ideally, you should consume food containing good quality omega 3 fatty acids daily for optimal health.
When pregnant or lactation is suspected, speak to a healthcare professional before consuming seafood. Certain fishes contain heavy metals, including the toxins mercury that can be harmful to pregnancy.
Take Only Fresh Oil While omega-3 is highly effective at addressing dry eyes – It loses its potency as time passes.
In other words, it oxidizes, reducing the effectiveness of the fatty acids.
Unfortunately, this can also lead to the oils completely spoiling even before the expiration date due to their nature.
Possible side effects
Mild side effects include bad breath, smelly sweat, headaches, and digestive problems like diarrhea, heartburn, and nausea. 6. Omega3 supplements such as fish oil are likely to be used by people who need to get rehabilitated.
Omega-3 supplements may interact with medications for blood clotting, so speak with your healthcare provider before trying it if you are taking any prescription medications.
Seafood Allergies If you are allergic to seafood, it is uncertain if you can safely take fish oil supplements. Err on the side of caution and speak with your healthcare provider before using it.
However, high doses of the supplement have been associated with some harmful effects.
They include increased bleeding risk, elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels, blood sugar control problems, and a fishy aftertaste or odor. In some at-risk populations, such as people who have had a heart transplant, omega 3 may affect heart rate.
Some fish can contain high levels of mercury. While the mercury in fish doesn’t lead to problems in most healthy adults, it can be a concern for women who are pregnant or planning to be pregnant
If you have heart disease, only take omega 3 under the direction of your health care provider,”
As a general rule of thumb, if you experience any adverse symptoms, decrease your intake or consider meeting your omega-3 fatty acid needs through food sources instead.
What should I look for?
The less processed, the better – natural fish oil supplement are more easily absorbed than purified fish oils.
With so many options available, most in liquid forms or capsules.
It is important to remember that not all fish oils are created equal.
The American Heart Association recommends that healthy adults get omega 3 by eating fish at least twice a week. Fatty fish, such as catfish, halibut, salmon, striped sea bass, and albacore tuna are good sources of omega 3 for eye health.
TheraLife – 100% pure omega 3 fish oil
Best dry eye relieve with TheraLIfe.
Home remedies
At-home tests provide quantitative metrics of a patient’s omega-3 index, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, arachidonic acid (AA) to EPA ratio, and other inflammatory markers.
These tests help tailor your treatment dosage, motivate patients for better compliance, and even improve their dietary choices for overall health.
Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References
For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health ® Reference The DE Assessment and Management Study Research Group. 2018
A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. DOI: 10.1111/aos.13428 Omega-3 fatty acids: An essential contribution. (n.d.). hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/omega-3-fats/ Omega-3 fatty acids
The protective effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids against DE disease: a literature review. Appl Sci. 2021; 11(10):4519. 9. Craig JP, Nelson JD, Azar DT, et al.
Efficacy of polyunsaturated fatty acids for dry eye syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. DOI: 10.1111/nure.12145 FEEDBACK: Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, OD — Written by Sonia Pearson on July 6, 2020, related stories Steps for Computer Eyestrain Relief for People with Chronic Dry Eye
