New Delhi, Aug 20
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids is not only good for adults, but also crucial to ward off the development of shortsightedness (myopia) in children, according to a global study.
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), which can only be obtained from the diet -- found predominantly in fish oils -- are thought to improve or prevent several chronic eye conditions, including dry eye disease and age-related macular degeneration.
But whether they can help ward off myopia wasn't clear, as studies to date have been experimental and haven't included people.
"This study provides the human evidence that higher dietary ω-3 PUFA intake is associated with shorter axial length and less myopic refraction, highlighting ω-3 PUFAs as a potential protective dietary factor against myopia development," said corresponding author Prof Jason C Yam, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Axial length is the measurement of the eye from the cornea at the front to the retina at the back, and it is an indicator of myopia progression, while myopic refraction, also known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error where the eye focuses light in front of the retina, causing distant objects to appear blurry.