Omega-3s Fatty Acid and Their Role in Dry Eye Disease

Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a prevalent condition affecting millions of people worldwide. DED is
characterized by symptoms such as red, irritated, burning, or watery eyes. This can significantly
impact one’s quality of life. If you have been suffering from dry and irritated eyes, you may be
surprised to learn that including omega-3s in your diet can make a difference on how your eyes
feel.

What Are Omega-3s Fatty Acids

Omega-3s fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential to the human
body. It must be obtained through diet as the body cannot produce them intrinsically. The most
relevant Omega-3 fatty acids pertaining to ocular health are:

• EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
• GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) 
• ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)

How Omega-3s Target Dry Eyes

Dry eye disease is often linked to inflammation and or dysfunction in your meibomian glands
which produces the oily layer of your tears. When the oily layer is lacking, your tears can
evaporate too quickly, leading to dryness and irritation.

Omega-3s helps with the following:

• Increase in tear production
• Reducing inflammation
• Improve oil quality and tear stability

History of Omega-3s and its Association to Dry Eyes

During the early 80’s and 90’s, DED began to be better understood as a condition associated
with ocular surface inflammation rather than just tear deficiency. Researchers then began
investigating omega-3s particularly, EPA and DHA association to ocular surface health as they
were previously shown to reduced pro-inflammatory markers for inflammatory conditions such
as rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease.This led to an increased interest in how fatty
acids affect the eyes in general, and thus the journey began on collecting the data. Researchers
have found improved tear breakup time, reduced tear osmolarity, and decreased dry eye
symptoms when taking omega-3s supplement. However, there has been new data that shows
omega-3s did not outperform its placebo (olive oil) group in relieving dry eye symptoms.
Although this data may be conflicting, some clinicians argue that the olive oil in the placebo
group may have had some anti-inflammatory properties that may have skewed the data.
Despite the conflicting results, omega-3s are continuously being investigated, however it is still
a great supplement to add to your diet.

Sources of Omega-3s For Dry Eyes

You can increase omega-3s intake through food and or supplements:

• Fish oil supplements
• Cold-water fish: Salmon, mackerel, and sardines
• Algal oil: Plant-based alternative ideal for vegetarians and vegans
• Flaxseed oil
• Chia seeds

Clinical data suggests taking at least 1000mg of combined EPA, DHA, ALA, and GLA to target
dry eyes. Make sure to check ingredient labels to get the proper amount of omega-3s.

Side Effects?

Omega-3 supplements are generally safe for most people however there are possible side
effects such as, fishy aftertaste, burping, upset stomach, increased atrial fibrillation and bleeding
risk at high doses (caution when on blood thinners). Some data may even suggest potential
risks regarding fish oil supplements where oxidation and contamination with heavy metals can
occur and be a risk for clogged arteries.Therefore, it is encouraged to consider the quality and
control of how a particular supplement is processed in order to avoid complications. 

It is always advised to discuss with your primary care doctor before starting any new
supplement, especially when you have any medical history or taking any other medications.