Welcome to a new episode of our "Krill Oil Special" here on the Medicom Health Podcast. Today, we are taking a close look at the human eye. We will address these topics: What are the capabilities of our visual organ, how do we strengthen our eyesight, and how can the nutrients in krill oil promote our eye health. Let’s get started.
How is the eye structured and how does it work? (Minute 1:02-2:23)
What weakens our eyesight? (Minute 2:24-3:38)
Temporary eye ailments (Minute 3:40-4:21)
What can I do myself for the health of my eyes? (Minute 4:22-7:11)
What effects does krill oil have on eye health? (Minute 7:12-8:31)
Studies on krill oil and eye health (Minute 8:32-13:54)
Conclusion (Minute 13:55-14:17)
How is the eye structured and how does it work?
Our eyes are our living windows to the world. They do not just capture visual stimuli; they shape our perception and, consequently, our emotions. Our eyes provide orientation, capture beauty, and guide us through the labyrinth of life. Their functions range from adapting to different lighting conditions to transmitting visual information to the brain.
To put it more scientifically: The eyes are sensory organs that convert light into neurological signals. The eyeball consists of the lens and pupil, which are covered by the colored iris. This is protected by the cornea. Behind the pupil lies the so-called vitreous body, which is encased by the retina, choroid, and sclera.
All these parts work together harmoniously to capture images and project them onto the retina. Photoreceptors in the retina convert light into electrical impulses. These impulses are transmitted via the optic nerve to the brain, where they are processed. The eye is a highly developed optical system that helps shape our reality.
What weakens our eyesight?
As fascinating as our eyes are, they are unfortunately also quite vulnerable. Well-known eye problems include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and corneal curvature, known as astigmatism. As we age, our eyesight suffers from various diseases. These include age-related macular degeneration, or AMD for short, in which the visual cells in the center of the retina are damaged. In addition, older people often suffer from a clouding of the eye's lens, known as cataracts. Another common ailment is glaucoma, which is associated with increased internal eye pressure that can damage the optic nerve.
The older we get, the more age-related eye problems increase. Often, however, this is not just fate, but also related to our lifestyle. In our younger years, robust eyes can compensate for a lot, but eventually, a lack of exercise (including for the eye muscles), an unbalanced diet, smoking, and high blood pressure take their toll.
Prevalence of eye diseases
According to experts, two out of every 100 people over the age of 40 are affected by glaucoma. According to the University Hospital Dresden, 400,000 people undergo surgery for cataracts annually. The association Pro Retina Deutschland e.V. even established an "AMD Day" in 2022 to raise awareness for age-related macular degeneration and its variants. The justification: "AMD is almost as widespread as diabetes." Despite this, the retinal disease remains largely unknown. The organizers hope to change that with AMD Day.
Temporary eye ailments
In addition to these permanent limitations on eye health, there are also temporary problems such as dry, watery, irritated, red, strained, and inflamed eyes. Some people also complain of allergic reactions, particularly light-sensitive eyes, or so-called "mouches volantes." These "floaters" are small dark or transparent spots that seem to dart across the field of vision. This is actually a harmless vitreous clouding, which, however, can have medical significance once it reaches a certain level of severity.
Visual impairment and eye diseases can have many causes, and they do not only affect older people. More and more young people have impaired eye health. According to experts, this is due to industrially processed foods, little exercise, and many hours in front of screens. Both rigid, motionless staring and artificial light are unfavorable for the eyes.
What can I do myself for the health of my eyes?
Fortunately, we can do quite a bit ourselves to maintain the health of our eyes, for example by training our eye muscles. There are muscles inside the eyeballs. Just as you can train your biceps, you can strengthen your eye muscles with specific exercises. It is best to dedicate a few minutes to your eyes several times a day. Roll them back and forth in their sockets, let your eyes look into the far distance and then back at something nearby, and use every angle of view possible to you.
Another tip: Take regular screen breaks. Never stare at a display or into a book for too long at a time; instead, give your eyes variety and rest again and again. Also, make sure to set the lighting on your screens to be as eye-friendly as possible.
And another tip: Blinking helps to moisten your eyes. This prevents the eyeballs from drying out. You can also relax your eyes by yawning. "Palming" is also helpful: this involves covering your open or closed eyes with your warm palms.
Finally, nutrition plays a central role in eye health. An adequate supply of vital nutrients supports eyesight and can even improve it. In addition to vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and secondary plant compounds such as lutein or zeaxanthin are particularly good for eye health.
What effects does krill oil have on eye health?
Let’s turn to our central question today: what can krill oil do for the eyes? Krill oil offers promising support for eyesight because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids – especially EPA and DHA. These essential fatty acids are like superheroes for the eyes. EPA helps to reduce inflammation, and DHA plays a crucial role in the structure of cell membranes, including those in the eyes. DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal vision when 250 mg of DHA is consumed daily. These fatty acids also reduce eye dryness and improve the stability of the tear film.
But that’s not all. Krill oil is also rich in phospholipids. These improve the bioavailability of the omega-3 fatty acids. They ensure that the omega-3s get exactly where they are needed—in the best and fastest way possible. The phospholipids contained in krill oil thus ensure truly efficient absorption and promote the optimal function of cells in eye tissue.
Studies on krill oil and eye health
And what does science say about this? Studies show that omega-3 fatty acids, especially from krill oil, can reduce inflammation and support the structure of eye tissue. A true boon for the eyes! We would like to briefly mention three of the many studies on eye health here. As always, you can find the links to the studies in the show notes of this podcast.
Study on macular degeneration and krill oil
A 2014 study investigated the relationship between the intake of omega-3 fatty acids and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Researchers examined 290 patients with this condition and 144 individuals with normal vision without AMD. It was found that people with AMD ate less omega-3-rich fish and seafood than those without AMD. The researchers found that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood were associated with a lower risk of neovascular AMD. A brief explanation: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease in which abnormally growing blood vessels under the retina lead to vision loss. This occurs due to fluid leakage and bleeding, which impairs central visual acuity.
Overall, the results suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of AMD and that biomarkers in the blood could serve as an indicator of risk. This way, people at high risk for AMD might be easily identified and could benefit from a targeted diet. (1)
Study on krill oil and Dry Eye Syndrome (DES)
A 2005 study focused on the so-called "Dry Eye Syndrome," or DES for short. In this very large-scale study, scientists examined 32,470 women between the ages of 45 and 84. The aim of the study was to understand the relationship between the intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and the occurrence of Dry Eye Syndrome.
The results showed that women who consumed more omega-3 fatty acids had a 17% lower risk of Dry Eye Syndrome. Important, however, was the finding that a higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids increases the risk of DES. In women with a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (greater than 15:1), the risk of DES increased by 151%.
The study suggests that a diet with a higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of dry eyes in women. These results are consistent with clinical observations and biological mechanisms. (2) Biological mechanisms may include: the functions of nerve cells, the regulation of hormones, blood supply, as well as the interaction of proteins and enzymes that work together to enable visual processes and eye functions.
Study on eye health: Krill oil performs better
Finally, we would like to mention a study from 2016. In this clinical double-blind study, researchers investigated the effectiveness of olive oil, fish oil, and krill oil for the treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). The study included 60 participants with mild to moderate DES. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first received a placebo—1,500 mg of olive oil—daily for 90 days; the second group received fish oil with 1,000 mg EPA and 500 mg DHA; and the third group received krill oil with 945 mg EPA and 510 mg DHA.
The results showed that taking EPA and DHA over three months led to a reduction in tear osmolarity. Tear osmolarity refers, among other things, to the salt content of the tear fluid. An imbalance can lead to less tear film being produced, thus promoting Dry Eye Syndrome. Furthermore, tear stability was improved.
Omega-3 fatty acids bound to phospholipids, as found in krill oil, seemed to offer an additional therapeutic benefit, as improved basal tear levels were measured in the participants who took it. Basal tear levels provide information about the amount of tear fluid. This study, too, provides evidence that krill oil can positively influence eye health. In this case, by improving tear composition and fluid volume, as well as reducing inflammation. (3)
Conclusion
Overall, scientific research shows that krill oil offers a fascinating way to support the health of our eyes. Whether young or old, one should never neglect their eye health. So, give your eyes the attention and care they deserve.
That's all for today. I hope our episode today was once again eye-opening for you. Please stay healthy and look forward to more exciting topics in our upcoming episodes. You can find all podcast episodes in the Medicom online magazine under Podcasts. See you soon!
Study references:
1.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24557349/
2.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16210721/
3.) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161642016313732#
• If you have further questions and would like to learn more about krill oil, do not hesitate to contact your trusted doctor or Medicom's free vital substance consultation at 0800 50 400 50. You can also learn more about krill in our podcast episode 1 titled: “Insights into the mysterious life of Antarctic krill”.
