My eye doctor told me to take fish oil. Does it help prevent or treat macular degeneration? [ 08/30/10 ]
This is an interesting question. The prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is lower in populations that do not subsist on a Western diet, and have more dietary fish intake (Japan, for example). However, the current evidence supporting a protective effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on AMD patients is controversial. Some smaller retrospective studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of progression of early or intermediate AMD to the advanced stage of this disease; however, other studies dispute such an association.
Currently, the large, multicenter National Eye Institute AREDS2 trial is designed to study the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on patients with AMD. This is a prospective, ongoing study and will evaluate whether omega-3 fatty acid consumption can indeed reduce the risk of AMD progression. Fish oil has been proven to have benefits on cardiovascular health, and with the current evidence, I would not recommend against taking this supplement, as long as you are aware that the evidence for its protective effects on ocular health have not clearly been established yet.