Omega-3 linked to less age-related vision loss

Women who get lots of omega-3 fatty acids are less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease affecting millions of older adults

That's the conclusion of a new study, which jibes with earlier research linking fish consumption to slower progression of AMD. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA include salmon, trout, sardines, herring and tuna.
AMD is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth behind the retina or breakdown of light-sensitive cells within the retina itself -- both of which can cause serious vision impairment.
Other than giving up cigarette smoking or never starting smoking, there are no known ways to prevent AMD," said William G. Christen of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who worked on the new study, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Christen and colleagues used data from earlier research called the Women's Health Study, in which women 45 years and up had filled out extensive diet questionnaires.
After 10 years, 235 out of 38,022 women had developed AMD severe enough to damage their vision.
When the researchers looked at all food sources of the important fatty acids, the risk of AMD was 38 percent lower in women with the top one-third DHA intake compared to those with the bottom one-third intake. For those who got a lot of EPA, the risk was 34 percent smaller.