Many doctors recommend them, but fish oil supplements do not help people with dry eyes when put to a scientific test.
About 14 percent of adult Americans have dry eye syndrome, causing pain and vision problems. It is more common in women and with age, and are associated with inflammation.
Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can reduce inflammation, so the doctors thought that they can help more than artificial tears, eye drops and other treatments patients use now.
Federally funded research gave 500 people a daily dose of fish oil or dummy capsules. After one year, the symptoms of dry eyes was similar in both groups.
Results were discussed Friday at a conference in Washington and published in the medical journal New England.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
