Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Prevent Age-Related Vision Loss

According to a newly published 10-year study on 38,022 women, omega-3 fatty acid consumption (found at high levels in fish) may help to lessen age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD affects millions of older adults in the U.S. alone and is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Doctors have been able to prevent the progression of AMD once identified but are still not able to reverse the disease. This study was therefore important to identify what factors if any might be able to prevent AMD for occurring. Researchers found women who consumed foods with higher levels of DHA and EPA, both omega 3-fatty acids, experienced a 38 percent lower risk for AMD and a 34 percent lower risk for AMD, respectively. However, researchers were not positive if the omega-3 fatty acids were responsible for the lower incident of AMD or that those who consumed more omega-3s were also leading healthier lifestyles that were responsible for the lower incidence of AMD. Clearly more research is necessary. Previously, the only known way to help prevent AMD was to never smoke or for smokers, to stop smoking.