| A number of studies have shown that eating fish | | | | inevitably there is a greater risk of health |
| regularly or taking Omega 3 fish oil capsules can | | | | problems associated with a lack of Omega 3 in |
| help slow down the progress of macular | | | | the diet. We know that Omega 3 is essential for |
| degeneration and offers preventative benefits | | | | healthy vision so it would be a natural assumption |
| against developing it in the first place. | | | | that eating more fish would help protect vision |
| So what is Macular Degeneration? | | | | and this is exactly what researchers have found. |
| Age related macular degeneration is the leading | | | | A study published in the journal of Opthalmologica |
| cause of loss of vision in people over the age of | | | | in 2005 concluded that Omega 3 supplementation |
| 65. The macula is a small area in the centre of | | | | along with acetyl-L-carnitine and COQ10 could slow |
| the retina and if the macular cells become | | | | down the progress and improve visual function in |
| damaged then this affects our central vision and | | | | people with age related macular degeneration. This |
| our ability to see right in front of us. | | | | was a randomised double blind placebo controlled |
| No one knows the cause of macular degeneration | | | | trial involving 106 individuals with early AMD. Only 2 |
| although age, poor diet, genetic tendency, | | | | percent of those taking fish oil experienced a |
| excessive sunlight and smoking are all believed to | | | | worsening of the condition compared to 17 |
| increase the risk. When macular degeneration | | | | percent in the placebo group. |
| occurs as a result of advancing years, it is known | | | | An Australian study known as the Blue Mountains |
| as age related macular degeneration or AMD. | | | | Study published in 2006 involved over 3,600 |
| AMD is not a painful condition and it doesn't usually | | | | people aged 49 and over. After a time span of 5 |
| lead to total loss of sight as the peripheral vision is | | | | years, the participants still involved were checked |
| not affected, nevertheless it can be distressing | | | | for signs of macular degeneration and their |
| for sufferers who find that their ability to read, | | | | dietary habits were analysed. The results showed |
| write, drive and perform other close visual tasks | | | | that there was a reduction in incidence of ARM |
| is inhibited. Early symptoms of age related | | | | (age related maculopathy) associated with eating |
| macular degeneration is usually blurred or distorted | | | | fish at least once a week, they concluded that a |
| vision and perhaps sensitivity to light. | | | | diet rich in Omega 3 could protect against ARM. |
| How can Omega 3 help? | | | | There are others that have come up with similar |
| Fish, particularly fatty fish such as sardines, herring | | | | results; however, it isn't advisable these days to |
| and salmon, contain essential nutrients that we | | | | overdo it on the fish consumption in order to get |
| need to survive and that we just can't find | | | | enough Omega 3 in the diet as there are toxins |
| anywhere else. These are the Omega 3 fatty | | | | such as mercury and dioxins in fish which could |
| acids known as Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and | | | | affect health in other ways. |
| Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) both of which are | | | | However, a daily dose of fish oil and that is fish oil |
| essential for healthy brain and eye function as well | | | | that is pure and free from toxins is safe to take |
| as for many other processes going on in the | | | | and may lower your risk of developing AMD, |
| body throughout our entire lives. | | | | might improve visual function in people with early |
| If we don't get enough of these fatty acids, and | | | | AMD and could possibly slow down or even halt |
| indeed most of us don't as our consumption of | | | | the progress of AMD. |
| fish has dramatically declined in recent years, then | | | | |