The thyroid is a gland in your neck that produces hormones to regulate your body's metabolic processes. If your thyroid secretes too much or too little of the hormone, you may have thyroid disease. Thyroid disease can affect your eyes, a condition known as Graves' eye disease. Controlling your thyroid with medications may not prevent or clear the symptoms of this condition. In such cases, your doctor may recommend supplements such as flax seed to ease eye symptoms.
Symptoms
Graves' eye disease causes inflammation in the tissues around and behind your eyes. This swelling may cause your eyes to push forward, a condition known as proptosis, which gives your eyes a bulging appearance. You may also experience visible swelling of your eyelids, surface irritation and vision changes.
Benefits
Flax seed oil will not treat your thyroid condition. However, flax seed oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which may provide some relief from the symptoms of Graves' eye disease. Omega-3 has anti-inflammatory properties, and this could have some effect on the inflammation of the tissues around the eye. Proptosis may not allow your eyelids to close properly, and this may result in dry eye. Flax seed may offer some relief from the surface irritation and discomfort caused by dry eye.
Additional Sources
You can find flax seed in ground form, which many people simply add to meals, such as sprinkling over a salad or cereal. Flax seed oil also contains omega-3, and you can add this to meals. Other sources of omega-3 include certain types of fish, such as salmon and tuna, as well as walnuts, pumpkin seeds, soybeans and canola oil. Flax seed oil capsules or fish oil capsules may help you regulate your intake of omega-3 each day.
Considerations
Talk with your doctor before using flax seed or other foods or supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids. She can help you determine if omega-3 is the best option to relieve your symptoms of Graves' eye disease. Omega-3 may interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners, and your doctor can evaluate your medications, supplements and general health to make sure flax seed and other omega-3 supplements or foods will not interfere with any treatment.
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