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Updated: Oct 16, 2025
05:56
Scleral Cross-linking Using Riboflavin and Ultraviolet-A Radiation for Prevention of Axial Myopia in a Rabbit Model
Published on: April 3, 2016
9.0K
Dietary ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are protective for myopia
Miaozhen Pan1,2, Fei Zhao1,2, Bintao Xie1,2
1School of Ophthalmology and Optometry and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
Summary
Omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), show promise in controlling myopia progression. These supplements may help prevent vision impairment by improving blood flow and reducing hypoxia in the sclera.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Nutritional Science
Background:
- Myopia is a major global cause of visual impairment and blindness.
- Current myopia control and prevention strategies lack safety and accessibility.
- Near work is a significant risk factor for myopia development, particularly in young adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) on myopia progression.
- To assess the impact of ω-3 PUFAs on choroidal blood perfusion (ChBP) reductions associated with near work.
Main Methods:
- Animal models (guinea pigs, mice) were used to study myopia development (form deprivation and lens-induced).
- Dietary supplementation and peribulbar injections of ω-3 PUFAs (DHA and EPA) were administered.
- Human subjects received oral ω-3 PUFAs to evaluate effects on near-work-induced ChBP changes.
- In vitro studies examined the effects of DHA and EPA on human scleral fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- Daily ω-3 PUFA gavage significantly attenuated myopia development in animal models.
- DHA injections also inhibited myopia progression in form-deprived guinea pigs.
- ω-3 PUFA treatment inhibited the 'ChBP reduction-scleral hypoxia cascade' and antagonized hypoxia-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation.
- Oral ω-3 PUFA administration partially alleviated near-work-induced ChBP decreases in human subjects.
Conclusions:
- Dietary ω-3 PUFAs, including DHA and EPA, are effective in controlling myopia progression in animal models.
- ω-3 PUFAs may mitigate myopia by improving ChBP and counteracting scleral hypoxia.
- ω-3 PUFAs represent a readily available and potentially safe option for myopia control.
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