Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. A combination of omega-3 and vitamin A could reduce the risk of an eye disease in which there is damage to the retina (tissue at the back of the inner eye that converts light into nerve signals and sends them to the brain). 

Retinitis pigmentosa is an eye disease in which there is damage to the retina, the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye that converts light into nerve signals and sends them to the brain. The cells in the eye that detect light (called rods) are the first to be affected, so one of the first symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa is trouble seeing and driving at night. It is estimated to affect 1 in 4,000 Americans, with the biggest risk factor being family history (1).

As there is no effective treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa, focusing on prevention is a priority. Now a new study (2) suggests that omega-3 fatty acids combined with vitamin A may be a very effective way to help maintain eye health.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from three studies consisting of 357 patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and who were all supplementing with 15,000 IU per day of vitamin A for 4 to 6 years. The researchers examined the amounts of omega-3 fats taken by each patient (no assigned amounts) and divided them into two groups: those consuming less than 200 mg per day of omega-3 fats and those consuming more than 200 mg per day. They used a visual chart called the “Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study” (ETDRS) visual acuity chart (3) as well as the “Snellen Retinal Acuity” chart (4) to measure changes in visual symptoms in the groups.

The researchers noted a significant improvement among the high omega-3 intake group regarding slowing visual deterioration compared to the low omega-3 group. Specifically, those in the high omega-3 intake group (greater than 200 mg per day) had 41% slower degradation according to the ETDRS chart compared to the low omega-3 group (less than 200 mg per day) (0.59 vs. 1.00 letter loss per year, p = 0.001). For the Snellen Chart testing, the high omega-3 group saw a 47% slower rate of vision loss per year compared to the low omega-3 group (1.5% vs. 2.8% decline per year, p = 0.03).

For the researchers, “the treatment regimen of vitamin A combined with an omega-3-rich diet (> 200 mg/d) should make it possible for many patients with typical retinitis pigmentosa to retain (more) visual acuity and central visual field…….”

Source: Berson, Eliot L., Bernard Rosner, Michael A. Sandberg, Carol Weigel-DiFranco, and Walter C. Willett. “ω-3 intake and visual acuity in patients with retinitis pigmentosa receiving vitamin A.” Archives of ophthalmology 130, no. 6 (2012): 707-711.

© 2012 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Posted February 24, 2012.

References:

  1. “Retinitis Pigmentosa” – see the PubMed Health website.
  2. Berson EL. Omega-3 Intake and Visual Acuity in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa Receiving Vitamin A. Arch Ophthalmol. Published online February 13, 2012. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2011.2580“Eye Charts”.
  3. See the National Eye Institute website.
  4. See the National Eye Institute website.