January 3, 2007
From Dr. Kristin Heeney - Do you have dry eyes?
at Brigham and Women?s Hostipal in Boston found that the amount, type and ratio of essential fatty acids in the diet may play a key role in dry eye prevention in women. The study had 3 specific findings:
- Women with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet had a 20 per cent lower risk of developing dry eye syndrome than women with lower omega-3 consumption
- One of the most important factors in reducing the risk of dry eye was the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. Women with a dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 greater than 15:1 had 2.5 times the risk of developing dry eye syndrome compared to women with a ratio of less than 4:1
- Tuna consumption reduced the risk of dry eye syndrome. Specifically, women who reported eating at least five servings of tuna per week had a 68 percent reduced risk of dry eye syndrome compared to those who consumed just one serving.
If you think you might have dry eye syndrome or just have questions about your vision, make an appointment to talk to us about your eye health.
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