Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 20: A groundbreaking international study has found that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may significantly reduce the risk of developing myopia (shortsightedness) in children — a condition that is rapidly rising in prevalence worldwide.
The research, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, is one of the first large-scale human studies to link dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) — found mainly in fish oils — to slower eye growth and healthier vision in young children.
“This study provides the human evidence that higher dietary ω-3 PUFA intake is associated with shorter axial length and less myopic refraction,” said lead researcher Prof. Jason C. Yam from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, highlighting omega-3s as a potential protective dietary factor against myopia.
What the Study Found
Researchers analyzed data from 1,005 children aged 6 to 8 in China. Each child’s diet, eye measurements, and physical activity levels were assessed. The study found:
• 27.5% (276 children) were already diagnosed with myopia
• Children who consumed higher amounts of omega-3s had shorter axial eye length, a key indicator of slower myopia progression
• Conversely, children with high intake of saturated fats — commonly found in butter, red meat, and palm oil — had a higher risk of developing myopia
How Omega-3 May Help
According to Prof. Yam, omega-3 fatty acids could boost blood flow through the choroid, the vascular layer of the eye that supplies oxygen and nutrients. This, in turn, may help prevent scleral hypoxia — a lack of oxygen in the white part of the eye — believed to be a contributing factor in eye elongation and the onset of myopia.
A Word of Caution
While the findings are promising, the researchers note that this was an observational study, meaning it cannot definitively prove cause and effect. Dietary data were self-reported via food frequency questionnaires, which may be affected by memory bias.
Still, the study opens the door for further research into dietary interventions for childhood eye health and suggests that parents may want to consider adding omega-3-rich foods — like salmon, sardines, flaxseeds, and walnuts — to their children’s meals.
As myopia continues to increase globally, especially among school-aged children, this study highlights the growing importance of nutritional strategies in protecting vision and eye development during the early years.