Newly published research claims that eating oily fish may protect older people against deterioration of cells in the eye, and act as a barrier to loss of sight.

Researchers at Louisiana State University have discovered that an omega-3 oil found in salmon, sardines and mackerel promotes the daily survival of cells critical to protecting against age-related vision loss. Although fish oil also contains an omega-6 oil which is inflammatory, the beneficial omega-3 variant is thought to override the effect of the former type.

The team believe that the discovery could open the way to new therapies for degenerative retinal diseases such as the dry form of age-related macular degeneration.

Sources:

1. Neuroscience News:
   Fish Oil Component Preconditions Vision Cells to Survive Future Injury or Disease.

2. Daily Express:
   Blind cure? Fish oil may protect older people against losing their sight.