Omega-3 for Healthy Eyes

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids have attracted a lot of positive interest in terms of their effects on health, including eye health. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that omega-3 plays a protective role, reducing or preventing damage to our eyes caused by light, inflammation, ischemia and oxygen free-radicals in the eye. Furthermore, omega-3 can prevent eye conditions from developing, helping to prevent blindness. The richest source of omega-3 is from fish oils, formulated in PM EyeTonic.

Keywords: EyeTonic, omega-3, fish oils, DHA, EPA, eye health, blindness, eye conditions

Not only is omega-3 required for the make-up of the eye itself, new scientific evidence suggests that omega-3 can prevent and protect against various eye conditions which can cause blindness and promote eye health.

By now, you would have probably heard media hype surrounding the health benefits of omega-3. Although researchers have been reluctant to hastily brand omega-3 as a “cure all” substance without further investigation, it has been widely reported that omega-3 has a positive influence on the heart, and brain and nerve function. Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids which naturally exist as oils in some foods, now considered essential for healthy nutrition. Most commonly, omega-3 has been discovered in high amounts in oily fish justifying the anecdotal evidence of the health benefits of fish in the diet. More recently, evidence has arisen about the beneficial effect of omega-3 on vision and maintaining healthy eyes.

The nerve cells that make up our central (brain) and peripheral nervous systems are partly made up of omega-3 fatty acids, which improve the conductivity and transmission of electric impulses. Our eyes require omega-3 fatty acids, as it becomes highly concentrated in the nervous tissue of the eye, playing a vital role in providing healthy vision.

In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration publicly recognised the health benefits of two omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DHA is essential in the diet for healthy brain and eye function. A deficiency in DHA, can lead to reduced health and function of the retina and overall poor vision. This is due to cells within the retina having reduced structural integrity. Therefore, DHA is required for structural support, making up 60% of neural cell tissue. DHA plays a protective role, reducing or preventing damage to our eyes caused by light, inflammation, ischemia and oxygen free-radicals. For example, eating oily fish such as tuna has been shown to reduce the risk of developing eye conditions such as macula degeneration. EPA is also important, more specifically regulating inflammation and maintaining blood vessels within the eye. Although playing a lesser role than DHA, EPA is also essential for healthy nutrition and eye function.

As touched on above, the benefits of EPA and in particular DHA are not limited to eye health and function. DHA in particular is beneficial for brain development in infants and children, and the maintenance of brain health and function in adults. DHA intake improves learning ability, concentration, cognition and memory in children, and is associated with improved states of mental health and behaviour, reducing attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADD/ADHD) like symptoms, while both DHA and EPA is associated and reduced depression-like symptoms, improving mood and reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety. Some of these benefits are also seen in adults, with reduced symptoms associated with depression, anxiety and stress.

DHA and EPA provide benefits for cardiovascular health, reducing clotting factor activity and improving blood flow and circulation throughout the body. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and stroke, particularly in higher risk individuals with obesity suffering from diabetes and hypertension.

There has also been some suggestion that these fatty acids may provide benefits to diabetes sufferers, and reduce symptoms associated with different forms of arthritis. DHA and EPA have also been implicated in regulating the immune system, improving immune responses to harmful pathogens causing viral, bacterial and fungal infections, while also reducing symptoms associated with allergies, particularly in children, allergic rhinitis, hay fever, asthma and rheumatic symptoms.

So you see, DHA and EPA fatty acids can provide health benefits not just for your eyes, but also for other parts of your body, improving your daily health and wellbeing. DHA and EPA are found in higher concentrations in fish oils, and in particular tuna oil. Tuna oil has the highest level of DHA when compared with other fish oils. This is why tuna oil is so special. Tuna oil has a higher a DHA:EPA ratio, similar to that present in nutrient-rich human breast milk. So for the best quality fish oil, look for products containing tuna oil.

PM EyeTonic, produced by PharmaMetics Australia, represents a practical and convenient source of tuna oil containing omega-3 DHA and EPA fatty acids. PM EyeTonic fish oil comes from Ocean Nutrition, the First US Pharmacopoeia verified bulk fish oil ingredient manufacturer. Tuna oil, supplied by Numega, is obtained using “dolphin safe” fishing methods from the clear South Pacific waters ensuring a clean source. Further, the fish oil in PM EyeTonic is processed and tested to ensure quality from contaminants such as heavy metals, and for purity.

Combined with other ingredients including bilberry, vitamins A, B1 (thiamin) and B2 (riboflavin), the DHA and EPA in PM EyeTonic, is a great source of omega-3, providing additional support for the health of your eyes. In easy to take capsules, PM EyeTonic improves eye health, preventing and alleviating vision-disturbing eye conditions, with the additional benefit of supporting nerve and brain function.

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