Several years ago, studies in mice revealed that omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, prevented retinopathy, a major form of blindness. Recently the same team of scientists from the Children's Hospital Boston concluded a follow-up study and discovered just how omega-3's provide protection against blindness.

"Retinopathy is caused by a degeneration of blood vessels in the eye followed later by a pathological destructive proliferation of leaky abnormal vessels that can cause retinal detachment and blindness," Dr. Lois Smith, lead study investigator and children's ophthalmologist, explained to AOL Health.

Diabetes is one of the main causes of retinopathy but the condition can also be caused by high blood pressure. In addition to protecting against retinopathy, the study found that omega-3 fatty acids may also prevent blindness in premature babies and in people with macular degeneration.

"These diseases are the leading causes of blindness in all age groups and account for a substantial number of cases of vision loss in the U.S. and in the world," says Smith. "The omega-3 fatty acids cause normal vessels to grow better and inhibit the proliferation of abnormal vessels."

According to Smith, omega-3 fatty acids increase the durability of blood vessels through the production of a "breakdown product" called 4HDHA, which is the result of an enzyme called 5LOX. Retinopathy is caused by changes in the blood vessels that interfere with oxygen delivery to the cells in the retina. Nerve cells in the retina send signals of what the eye sees along the optic nerve to the brain. Long-term damage to the retina, such as that caused by a lack of oxygen delivery, may lead to blindness.

The study's findings, published in the Feb. 9 issue of Science Translational Medicine, could potentially provide a massive reduction in the cost of treating the conditions that cause blindness.

"The cost of treating age-related macular degeneration with both eyes involved is up to $4,000 per month per patient," says Smith. "The cost of taking omega-3 fatty acids is about $10 per month and has other beneficial health effects."

Smith and her team hope their discovery can help prevent eye disease in patients with diabetes as well. Clinical studies need to be completed to confirm the results in relation to diabetes. Currently, a clinical trial is testing the results in age-related macular degeneration patients.

"It is likely that many people in the world have inadequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids and would benefit from taking a supplement or eating more fish," adds Smith. "We need to do clinical studies to determine the appropriate dose for patients, but it is likely to be in the range provided by over-the-counter supplements."

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