supplement quality

# Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Glaucoma: Inflammation and Eye Health **Glaucoma** is a progressive optic neuropathy often driven by elevated **intraocular pressure (IOP)** and chronic neuroinflammation. By contrast, omega-3 **polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)** – notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – give rise to **specialized pro-resolving mediators** (SPMs). SPMs (including resolvins, protectins, and maresins) actively turn off inflammation and promote tissue healing. Emerging research suggests SPMs from EPA/DHA might improve the *trabecular meshwork* outflow of aqueous humor, dampen retinal inflammation, and support blood vessel health in glaucoma ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6412416/#:~:text=In%20this%20context%2C%20Omega,98)) ([www.sciencedirect.com](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1098882324000091#:~:text=Lipid%20mediators%20in%20glaucoma%3A%20Unraveling,View%20Open)). This article reviews how these mechanisms could influence eye pressure and retinal neurons, surveys the clinical trials on omega-3 supplements in glaucoma (focusing on IOP, visual function, and ocular blood flow), and connects eye outcomes with broader longevity and cardiovascular findings. Finally, we discuss supplement safety, **fish vs. algal** omega-3 sources, and quality control concerns. ## Mechanisms: SPMs, Inflammation Resolution, and the Eye ### Trabecular Outflow and IOP Regulation The **trabecular meshwork (TM)** is the eye’s drainage system for aqueous humor. In glaucoma, TM cells are often damaged by oxidative stress and inflammation ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6412416/#:~:text=Glaucoma%20is%20a%20multifactorial%20disease,in%20which%20the%20visual%20pathway)) ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6412416/#:~:text=In%20this%20context%2C%20Omega,98)). SPMs derived from omega-3s can counteract chronic inflammation: they shift immune cells from a pro-inflammatory to a healing mode, reduce cytokines (e.g. TNF-α, IL-6) via nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibition, and reverse tissue damage ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6412416/#:~:text=In%20this%20context%2C%20Omega,98)) ([www.sciencedirect.com](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1098882324000091#:~:text=Lipid%20mediators%20in%20glaucoma%3A%20Unraveling,View%20Open)). In the TM, this could mean less endothelial dysfunction and more normal outflow resistance. For example, preclinical studies (though not yet in glaucoma patients) show lipoxins and resolvins protect microvascular endothelium and promote vasodilation by increasing nitric oxide ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11955787/#:~:text=Excessive%20local%20inflammation%20is%20a,SPMs)) ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11955787/#:~:text=such%20as%20phagocytosis%20and%20polarization%2C,beneficial%20effects%20in%

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Inflammation Resolution, and Glaucoma Progression

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