The website “Abonet.de” reported that myopia is rapidly increasing among children worldwide, with known risk factors including excessive screen time, limited outdoor activity, and genetic predisposition. The site, an official portal for German pharmacists, highlighted a study involving over 1000 children aged 6 to 8 to track eye disease development and potential risk factors. Besides eye exams, participants completed extensive dietary questionnaires. Analysis revealed that more than a quarter of the children (27.5%) had myopia, which was less common among those following a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Eye length from cornea to retina is an indicator of myopia; longer eyes indicate myopia. The study found that a quarter of children with lower omega-3 intake had longer eyes, while those with the highest omega-3 intake had shorter eyes. This effect was independent of outdoor time and parental myopia.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are obtained exclusively through diet, with sources including salmon, flaxseed oil, and walnuts. Previous studies have linked high omega-3 intake to reduced risk of chronic eye diseases such as dry eye and age-related macular degeneration.