How do omega 3’s help? And is there one that is recommended? These are commonly asked questions at the end of a dry eye consult, or even sometimes in a routine eye exam. These days, most people suffer from some level of dry eye complaints, whether it’s mask related or related to working extra long hours in front of the computer. The latter can be found in children too!
Dry eye is an inflammatory condition and this is now well known. It is a chronic disease which can be debilitating. Omega 3 is a natural anti-inflammatory compound which can be very beneficial.
It can be confusing to know which Omega 3 brand to buy. There are a variety of products out there and it can be confusing to understand the difference. The first thing to understand is that Omega 3 is what needs to be supplemented. There are Omega 3-6-9 combos, but we do not recommend those. Omega 6 is readily available from the foods you eat daily and your body can make Omega 9 on its own. Taking too much Omega 6 can stop your body’s absorption of Omega 3! So we recommend just taking Omega 3.
But how do you know which brand of Omega 3 to buy? You need to take a re-esterified triglyceride form of Omega 3, which actually isn’t easy to find and tends to be a more expensive form. It is more easily digestible and more bioavailable as compared to the other forms of Omega on the market. Examples of products that we tend to recommend are PRN by Labtician and Nutrasea Dry Eye formulation.
So how do Omega 3’s help? They help by decreasing the inflammation in the glands that line the lids, which produce an oil-like substance called meibom. Meibom helps keep your tears healthy and can help decrease those awful symptoms of tired eyes, burning eyes, red eyes, gritty eyes and so forth!
Please listen to your optometrist and use a good quality omega 3 as directed and let your eyes (and joints and heart) reap the benefits!
