Written from the studies on PubMed, searched on 2026. nov. 11.. Every number below comes from a study listed under Sources.
The claim
Posts online say that omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) helps with diabetic eye disease.
Where research stands
We found 23 published papers on omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and diabetic eye disease. They were published between 1990 and 2025. 5 of them are studies in people. 4 of them compared people who got it with a group that did not. 4 were studies in animals, and none was only in cells in the lab. 6 papers are reviews that sum up other studies.
- 5In people4 with a comparison group
- 4In animals
- 0Only in the lab
What the studies found
We have not summed up these studies in words yet. The most important papers are listed under Sources.
Verdict
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) has been tested in randomised trials in people with diabetic eye disease.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- ASCEND-Eye: Rationale, design and baseline characteristics for a sub-study of the ASCEND randomised trial, exploring the effects of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids on diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.2023 · Contemp Clin Trials Commun · Randomised trial
- Supplementation with a Highly Concentrated Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: A 2-Year Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.2022 · Antioxidants (Basel) · Randomised trial
- COMBINED INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB AND ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION WITH DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID AND ANTIOXIDANTS FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: Two-Year Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial Results.2017 · Retina · Randomised trial
- Fish oil-induced changes in apolipoproteins in IDDM subjects.1990 · Diabetes Care · Randomised trial
- Blood omega-3 biomarkers, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vessel status in patients with type 1 diabetes.2025 · Eye (Lond) · Study in people
- Association between omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk of diabetic retinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2025 · J Nutr Health Aging · Review
- Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects in Diabetic Retinopathy: A Narrative Review.2023 · Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) · Review
- Diabetic retinopathy and the role of Omega-3 PUFAs: A narrative review.2023 · Exp Eye Res · Review
- Omega-3 fatty acids in prevention of diabetic retinopathy.2017 · J Pharm Pharmacol · Review
- Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on eye health.2005 · Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ) · Review
- The role of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in health and disease of the retina.2005 · Prog Retin Eye Res · Review
- Retinal Docosahexaenoic Acid Is Significantly Reduced in Diabetic Humans and Mice: Possible Relationship to Diabetic Retinopathy.2024 · Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci · In animals
- Omega-3 from Flaxseed Oil Protects Obese Mice Against Diabetic Retinopathy Through GPR120 Receptor.2018 · Sci Rep · In animals
- A role for omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements in diabetic neuropathy.2010 · Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci · In animals
- Acceleration of experimental diabetic retinopathy in the rat by omega-3 fatty acids.1996 · Diabetologia · In animals
- Correlation between omega-3 intake and the incidence of diabetic retinopathy based on NHANES from 2005 to 2008.2024 · Acta Diabetol · Other paper
- ASCEND-Eye: Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Diabetic Retinopathy.2024 · Ophthalmology · Other paper
- OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED PRESENCE AND SEVERITY OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY: A Combined Analysis of MESA and GOLDR Cohorts.2023 · Retina · Other paper
- THREE-YEAR OUTCOMES IN A RANDOMIZED SINGLE-BLIND CONTROLLED TRIAL OF INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB AND ORAL SUPPLEMENTATION WITH DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID AND ANTIOXIDANTS FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA.2019 · Retina · Other paper
