Can anyone help - vitamins and eye health?

[BlueSkySunnyDay]

My eyes stream when it is cold and my optician has told me that it is actually because they are too dry.

She has recommended that I try taking Omega 3 & 6 as this may help.

Dont have a clue what I am looking for!

Does anyone have experience of having tried taking it for this purpose or even some idea of where and what I should be buying?

A visit to holland and Barrett is on the cards.

Certainly worth a try. Just ask the staff if unsure.

Or indeed eat more fish.

I do eat fish a couple of times a week.

Optician said it works though and as I currently look like I'm in tears half the time I thought I'd give it a go (people will start to think I have a very traumatic life otherwise)

If you're looking for eye health, you need a supplement that has high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids - specifically DHA. You really need one that has over 250mg of DHA per day (per EFSA guidelines).

You'd find this in a very high strength cod liver oil, or a high strength fish oil supplement. Boots, H&B, anywhere would have them. I'd be less fussed with Omega-6 - there are no recognised claims for Omega-6, and besides we all get plenty in our diet.

I've heard good reviews of lutein and sea buckthorn oil for eyes

My optician recommended sustain eye drops for this problem after I had tried omega 3 and 6 with no success. Most of the time there is an underlying cause rather than just lack of omegas, do you have other symptoms like aching joints/limbs, mouth ulcers, tiredness.

I had a similar problem to this a couple of years ago, although I don't think it was as severe as yours. It only seemed to affect one eye, which felt dry and sore all the time despite actually watering almost constantly.

I now take a high dose Omega 3 supplement, which has 530mg DHA in it. My eye is totally fine now, so I really recommend it.

I agree with Hazel that I wouldn't be too fussed about the Omega 6 - it is Omega 3 which is powerfully anti-inflammatory.