The Research team at Ophthalmos Institute has confirmed that Omega-3 fatty acids can protect the optic nerve in glaucoma. ‘Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness, and affects 80 million people worldwide. Several risk factors, especially age and elevated intraocular pressure, play crucial roles in glaucoma development . However, the exact relationship between intraocular pressure and glaucoma remains unclear; not all people with elevated intraocular pressure develop glaucoma, while even those with normal intraocular pressure can develop the disease. The only therapies that can improve or halt the deterioration of vision in patients with glaucoma are those that reduce intraocular pressure via topical instillation of anti-glaucoma eye drops, laser therapy or invasive surgery . Therapies that lower intraocular pressure within normal limits, have been estimated to slow optic nerve damage by 50–60%. ‘Omega 3 fatty acids can provide another option for optic nerve protection in patients with glaucoma ‘ said Dr Tassos Georgiou , the head of the research team at Ophthalmos
