Eye disease preventable by a diet rich in the right oils

Published on Monday 11 May 2009 22:11

A DIET containing fish, nuts, and olive oil can reduce the risk of age-related eye disease, research has shown.

The link emerged from a study of 2,454 Australian volunteers who were asked to keep "food diaries" for two years.

Five and ten years later their eyes were examined for signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of sight impairment in people over the age of 65.

The researchers found one fish meal per week led to a 31 per cent reduced risk of developing early AMD. Eating one or two servings of nuts per week was associated with a 35 per cent risk reduction.

The findings suggest increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids protects against AMD, said the study authors.

Omega-3 may guard against damage to the eyes by keeping arteries healthy or reducing inflammation and blood vessel formation, or countering the effect of destructive oxygen molecules.

The research, led by Jennifer Tan, from the University of Sydney, is reported in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology.