Study: Low fat diet and omega-3 oils

In general, a very low-fat diet (10 percent of calories from fat) that excludes red meat and dairy products has been shown to reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Anderson, R.E., Rapp, L.M., and Wiegard, R.D.. Lipid peroxidation and retinal degeneration. Current Eye Research 3 (1984): 223-27.

However, the lack of omega-3 fatty acids, in the form of omega-3 oils, is also a risk factor. When treated with omega-3 fatty acids for four weeks, 85 percent of macular degeneration patients over age 70 experienced improved vision. Conner, W.E., Neuringer, M., and Reisbick, S. Essential fatty acids: The importance of n-2 fatty acids in the retina and the brain. Nutrition Reviews 50 (1992): 21-29.
Editor’s Note: The best sources of omega-3 EFA’s are the flesh of cold water marine fish as well as black currant oil, flaxseed oil and hemp seed.