A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help protect children from developing nearsightedness, while high intake of saturated fats could increase their risk, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,000 Chinese children aged 6 to 8 as part of the Hong Kong Children Eye Study. They assessed both dietary patterns and eye health, measuring indicators of myopia such as axial length, the distance from the cornea to the retina, and refractive error.
Children who consumed the most omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods like fish, had shorter axial lengths and less severe refractive errors, both signs of lower myopia risk. In contrast, children with the highest saturated fat intake, from foods such as butter, palm oil and red meat, showed longer axial lengths and greater degrees of nearsightedness.
The researchers note that myopia is rising rapidly worldwide, with projections that half of the global population could be affected by 2050. Factors like excessive screen time, limited outdoor activity and family history are already known risks. Nutrition may now be another piece of the puzzle.
This was an observational study, meaning it cannot prove cause and effect. The team also cautioned that food frequency questionnaires can be imprecise and that findings from Hong Kong, where myopia rates are especially high, may not apply universally.
Still, the authors conclude: “This study provides the human evidence that higher dietary ω-3 PUFA intake is associated with shorter axial length and less myopic refraction, highlighting ω-3 PUFAs as a potential protective dietary factor against myopia development.”
The researchers suggest that omega-3s may protect vision by boosting blood flow in the eye and preventing oxygen deficiency in the sclera, the white outer layer. More research across diverse populations is needed, but the findings add to growing evidence that what children eat can shape not just overall health but also eye health.
This research was published with support from Projekt DEAL, which helps make scientific studies freely available to the public.