Written by Jessica Patella, ND. 70% of subjects, who had Dry Eye Syndrome and supplemented with fish oil, were symptom free after 3 months compared to 14.9% in the placebo group.
Computer Vision Syndrome is a collection of symptoms caused by looking at computer screens, cell phone screens or video games for extended periods of time. Looking at computer-type screens for hours at a time is now common in the workplace, school and home (1). It is estimated that adults and children spend 2-12 hours per day looking at a computer screen (1, 2). Prolonged use of computer screens results in reduced blinking and less tear production to lubricate the eyes, resulting in dry eyes (1, 3). The first study of its kind has found that supplementing with fish oil can improve the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (1).
Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome include eye strain, tired eyes, headache, burning of eyes, redness, foreign body sensation, blurring of vision, along with occasional backache and neck pain. Of these symptoms, the visual symptoms effect an estimated 64-90% of patients (1, 4).
The recent research included 456 participants who used computers for more than 3 hours per day for at least one year and had symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome. The participants were randomly divided into a fish oil group (n=220) or a placebo group (n=236). Each group took two capsules twice daily for three months (Fish oil group: 1 cap=180mg EPA, 120 mg DHA; total 720 EPA, 480 DHA per day) (1).
After three months, 70% of the participants in the fish oil group were symptom-free, compared to 14.9% in the placebo group. Participants in the fish oil group also reported a greater reduction in the number of symptoms (4 +/-2.8) compared to the placebo group (0.7 +/- 1.4) (1).
All participants also underwent a Tear Break-up Time Test (TBUT), which is the gold standard test for dry eyes. After three months, there was significant improvement in the TBUT test in the fish oil group compared to the placebo group (mean increase 3.2 +1.8 s vs 0.4 +/- 0.6; P<0.001) (1).
In conclusion, supplementing with fish oil results in improvement in symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome, dry eyes and improvement in tear stability (as shown by the improvement in the TBUT) vs. placebo. This was the first study of its kind to evaluate supplementing with fish oil for symptoms of dry eyes from Computer Vision Syndrome (1).
Source: Bhargava, Rahul, et al. “Oral omega-3 fatty acids treatment in computer vision syndrome related dry eye.” Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 38.3 (2015): 206-210.
© 2015 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Posted July 21, 2015.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Bhargava R, et al. Oral omega-3 fatty acids treatment in computer vision syndrome related dry eye. 2015 Contact Lens & Anterior Eye. DOI:10.1016/j.clae.2015.01.007
- Cardona G, et al. Blink rate, blink amplitude,and tear film integrity during dynamic visual display terminal tasks. Curr EyeRes 2011;36(3):190–76 or 7
- Schlote T, Kadner G, Freudenthaler N. Marked reduction and distinct patterns of eye blinking in patients with moderately dry eyes during video display terminal use. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2004;242(4):306–12.
- Rosenfield M. Computer vision syndrome: a review of ocular causes and potential treatments. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2011;31(5):502–15.
