The Foods Linked to Short-Sightedness in Kids—and What to Eat Instead
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help protect children from developing short-sightedness, new research suggests.
The study examined more than 1,000 Chinese children aged 6 to 8, drawing participants from the ongoing Hong Kong Children Eye Study.
Researchers tracked the children's eye health and analyzed their diets through a detailed food frequency questionnaire covering 280 different food items categorized into 10 groups.
These included breads, cereals, pasta, rice and noodles, vegetables and legumes, fruits; meats, fish and eggs, milk and other dairy products, drinks, snacks including dim sum, fats and oils, and soups.
Children's hands eating fish with creamy sauce and broccoli in white plate, top view.
Children's hands eating fish with creamy sauce and broccoli in white plate, top view.
vaaseenaa
Roughly 27.5 percent of the children studied had myopia or short-sightedness. Those with higher dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids—commonly found in fish oils—had a lower risk of the condition, while children with the highest intake of saturated fats—found in foods such as butter, red meat and palm oil—were more likely to show signs of the disorder.
Measurements of axial length (the distance from the front to the back of the eye, a key marker of myopia progression) revealed that eyes were longest in children with the lowest intake of omega-3 fatty acids, and shortest in those with the highest intake.
Similarly, measures of refractive error were most severe in children consuming the least omega-3s.
The reverse pattern was seen among those with the highest saturated fat consumption. No other nutrients were associated with the development of myopia.
While the study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect, the authors suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may suppress myopia by boosting blood flow through the choroid—a vascular layer in the eye that delivers oxygen and nutrients—thereby preventing oxygen deficiency in the sclera, a key factor in the onset of short-sightedness.
The prevalence of myopia is increasing worldwide and is expected to affect half of the global population by 2050, with East Asia experiencing particularly high rates.
Risk factors are believed to include excessive screen time, limited outdoor activity and genetic susceptibility.
"This study provides the human evidence that higher dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is associated with shorter axial length and less myopic refraction, highlighting omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a potential protective dietary factor against myopia development," the authors wrote in their paper.
Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about eye diseases? Let us know via health@newsweek.com.
Reference
Zhang, X. J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y. J., Yu, J., Tang, F. Y., Li, Y., Yeung, S., Kam, K. W., Agrawal, K., Loh, N. C., Ip, P., Wong, I. C. K., Zhang, W., Young, A. L., Tham, C. C., Pang, C. P., Chen, L. J., & Yam, J. C. (2025). Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a protective factor of myopia: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study. British Journal of Ophthalmology. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo-2024-326872
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The Foods Linked to Short-Sightedness in Kids—and What to Eat Instead
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help protect children from developing short-sightedness, new research suggests. The study examined more than 1,000 Chinese children aged 6 to 8, drawing participants from the ongoing Hong Kong Children Eye Study. Researchers tracked the children's eye health and analyzed their diets through a detailed food frequency questionnaire covering 280 different food items categorized into 10 groups. These included breads, cereals, pasta, rice and noodles, vegetables and legumes, fruits; meats, fish and eggs, milk and other dairy products, drinks, snacks including dim sum, fats and oils, and soups. Children's hands eating fish with creamy sauce and broccoli in white plate, top view. Children's hands eating fish with creamy sauce and broccoli in white plate, top view. vaaseenaa Roughly 27.5 percent of the children studied had myopia or short-sightedness. Those with higher dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids—commonly found in fish oils—had a lower risk of the condition, while children with the highest intake of saturated fats—found in foods such as butter, red meat and palm oil—were more likely to show signs of the disorder. Measurements of axial length (the distance from the front to the back of the eye, a key marker of myopia progression) revealed that eyes were longest in children with the lowest intake of omega-3 fatty acids, and shortest in those with the highest intake. Similarly, measures of refractive error were most severe in children consuming the least omega-3s. The reverse pattern was seen among those with the highest saturated fat consumption. No other nutrients were associated with the development of myopia. While the study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect, the authors suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may suppress myopia by boosting blood flow through the choroid—a vascular layer in the eye that delivers oxygen and nutrients—thereby preventing oxygen deficiency in the sclera, a key factor in the onset of short-sightedness. The prevalence of myopia is increasing worldwide and is expected to affect half of the global population by 2050, with East Asia experiencing particularly high rates. Risk factors are believed to include excessive screen time, limited outdoor activity and genetic susceptibility. "This study provides the human evidence that higher dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is associated with shorter axial length and less myopic refraction, highlighting omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a potential protective dietary factor against myopia development," the authors wrote in their paper. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about eye diseases? Let us know via health@ Reference Zhang, X. J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y. J., Yu, J., Tang, F. Y., Li, Y., Yeung, S., Kam, K. W., Agrawal, K., Loh, N. C., Ip, P., Wong, I. C. K., Zhang, W., Young, A. L., Tham, C. C., Pang, C. P., Chen, L. J., & Yam, J. C. (2025). Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a protective factor of myopia: The Hong Kong Children Eye Study. British Journal of Ophthalmology.
