Dry eye syndrome is a condition that occurs when your eye cannot produce adequate tears to coat the surface of your eye or if your tear film has a poor quality and fails to nourish the eye's surface properly. Frequent use of artificial tears may provide momentary relief, but the symptom relief may only last a short time. The omega-3 fatty acids found in cod liver oil may help provide lasting relief from the symptoms of dry eye.
Symptoms
Dry eye may cause itching, stinging or burning on the surface of your eye. You may also feel a foreign body sensation, as though you have something in your eye. Episodes of blurry vision may also occur, but a series of quick blinks may restore vision. Some people also experience excessive tearing. This is the body's response to dryness, but the quickly produced tears have a high water content and do not have the oils or mucous to help the tears spread over the surface of the eye. As a result, the excessive tears will run down your cheeks.
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil comes in either liquid or capsule form, and people use this supplement for a number of health conditions, such as high cholesterol levels. This fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids which, with continued use, may help relieve the symptoms of dry eye. Your doctor will evaluate the medications you take and consider your overall health to decide upon a dosage that will provide you with the best treatment. She may also recommend that you use artificial tears in conjunction with cod liver oil to provide the best possible relief from dry eye symptoms.
Additional Sources
In addition to cod liver oil, you can find omega-3 in other types of fish, such as mackerel, tuna and salmon. Walnuts, ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil contains significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. You can find flaxseed oil and fish oil in capsule form. The fish oil capsules may contain cod liver oil or the oil from other types of fish.
Considerations
Omega-3 has the potential to increase the blood-thinning effects of anticoagulant medications such as warfarin and coumadin. If you have diabetes, you will need to closely monitor your blood sugar since omega-3 may cause a drop in your blood sugar levels. Talk with your doctor before you take cod liver oil or other forms of omega-3 to ensure that you take an appropriate dose, and to also ensure that cod liver oil will provide you with a safe, beneficial way to treat your dry eye symptoms.
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