27 October 2025
A new study published in British Journal of Ophthalmology has outlined how a high intake of foods containing omega-3, such as oily fish and flaxseed, is associated with a lower risk of myopia.
Researchers analysed data from 1005 children between the ages of six and eight who were included within the Hong Kong Children Eye Study.
Participating families were asked to report the frequency of their consumption of foods from a list of 280 different items over the past 12 months.
Children underwent an ocular examination, including axial length measurement and refractive status as determined by cycloplegic autorefraction.
They found that a higher consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was associated with a shorter axial length and less myopic refraction.
“Public health policies and clinical guidelines could integrate nutritional advice into myopia management,” the authors highlighted.
The researchers also found that a higher intake of saturated fat was associated with an elevated risk of myopia.
They added that while this finding was “statistically noteworthy,” further research was needed to confirm the link.
“Its borderline nature underscores the importance of future studies to validate the finding,” the researchers noted.
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