It seems like you can’t turn on the TV or open a newspaper lately without hearing about nutritional breakthroughs. All the latest vision research has been about how what you put in your mouth affects your eyes. Omega-3s, in particular, have been called “the miracle food of the 21st century” These omega-3s not only help protect against cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration—even dry eyes—but also boost overall cardiovascular health.
Yet it can be hard to get the level of omega-3s we need, as, unlike other nutrients, our bodies cannot produce them. Although the American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week as a source for omega-3s, there is widespread concern about mercury contamination of fish. People who want to avoid excessive fish consumption because of concerns about mercury should get omega-3s through supplements, the association says.