Dry eye disease – an inflammatory condition characterized by a stinging, burning, or scratchy sensation in the eyes – affects roughly 8 percent of adults in the U.S. Although several treatments address dry eye symptoms, none target the underlying inflammation. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that omega-3 fatty acids alleviate dry eye symptoms and reduce eye inflammation.

Researchers reviewed the findings of randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of omega-3s on dry eye. Their analysis included 19 trials involving more than 4,200 patients.

They found that the duration (one to 12 months), total omega-3 dose (128 to 2,000 milligrams), and percentage of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, ranging from 7 to 80 percent) varied considerably among the trials. Despite this heterogeneity, the reviewers concluded that omega-3s effectively reduced dry eye symptoms, especially when taken longer, in higher doses, and with higher EPA percentages..

These findings suggest that omega-3s are viable options for treating dry eye disease. Some of these effects may be due to omega-3s' capacity to enhance tear production and restore the eyes' lipid layer by resolving dysfunction in the meibomian glands (tiny oil glands that line the eyelids' margins), collectively working to alleviate symptoms and improve overall eye health.

Omega-3 fatty acids exert robust anti-inflammatory properties, likely due to their formation of specialized pro-resolving molecules (SPMs), a broad class of metabolites that resolve inflammation. Learn more about SPMs in this clip featuring Dr. Bill Harris.