Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Eye Health

Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, may play a meaningful role in supporting eye health across several conditions, including dry eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, retinal development, and potentially retinitis pigmentosa, with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of these fatty acids thought to underlie many of these effects. The available evidence spans systematic reviews, narrative reviews, and survey-based studies rather than a large body of high-quality randomized controlled trials, and the overall direction of findings is promising but mixed — some reviews note encouraging trends while others caution that the evidence remains too preliminary or inconsistent to draw firm conclusions, particularly when distinguishing between dietary sources and supplemental forms. Studies indicate that optometrists commonly recommend omega-3s in clinical practice, especially for dry eye, though researchers have noted a need for better clinician education around the nuances of the evidence base. Ongoing and planned clinical trials, such as a 24-week trial examining omega-3s alongside lutein and zeaxanthin in young adults with high digital device use, may help clarify these questions, but at present the research supports cautious optimism rather than definitive conclusions about omega-3 supplementation for eye health.