Dry eye disease affects around one-quarter of Canadians, and since it is a chronic condition, there is presently no specific treatment that will totally prevent dry eye from re-occurring. Despite this, there are several dry eye treatment and prevention options that are accessible on the market.  This can include products like eye drops, eye masks, and ointments or procedures like IPL and Radiofrequency.  However, nutrition and more specifically Omega-3 intake is often overlooked in its treatment and addressing it can give dry eye sufferers much more consistent and long term improvement. This guide will  help you understand more about the most effective Omega-3s for dry eye available in Canada and what to look for and avoid when buying them if you suffer from dry eyes. Continue reading to find out more.

What Are the Advantages of Omega-3s For Dry Eye?

According to the National Eye Institute, although eye drops (artificial tears) and ointments are the most often prescribed therapies for dry eye, many people find further relief by supplementing their diet with omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are available in capsule form, and liquid form. The two key omega-3 fatty acids that are vital elements are as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are essential for a variety of bodily processes and are found in every cell of the human body . In relevance to dry eye, these critical omega-3 fatty acids aid in the production and expression of oil from our meibomian glands which enters our tear film.  The lipid layer is the natural protective barrier of our tear film and by improving it we can effectively reduce premature evaporation of tears from the eye surface which in turn leads to a reduction in inflammation and dry eye symptoms.

Which Omega- 3s are Best For Dry Eye Sufferers?

When choosing Omega-3s specific for dry eye there are two main factors to keep in mind.  The first is the quality of the product which is dependent on the source and manufacturing process involved in its production.  We recommend Omega-3s in the re-esterified triglyceride form because they eliminate many of the pollutants found in high quantities of raw fish such as mercury, lead and other heavy metals. These ultra-purified supplements are also more easily digestible which increased bioavailability and effectiveness.  Furthermore, this purifying process eliminates much of the fishy taste associated with lower quality over the counter Omega 3 supplements.  All of our Omega-3s including I-VU OMEGA-3 PLUS and the PRN line are strictly purified into the res-esterified triglyceride form.