The start of a new year represents the beginning of a new chapter, especially when it comes to setting the stage for a healthy year ahead. From heart and brain health habits to eating right and working out, there are many small changes people can make to get on the right track, but one area that has often been overlooked in the past is eye health.
 
Luckily, growing consumer interest in eye health spurred by COVID-19, and concern around increased screen time and blue light exposure, are helping to contribute to the large market potential for eye health products.
 
Effective ingredients, such as high-quality phospholipid omega-3s and choline, naturally found in krill oil, are emerging in this category in helping to reduce symptoms of dry eye disease, including inflammation, irritation, and redness. 

Dry Eye Disease/Syndrome and Occurrence

Tears play an essential role in protecting and keeping the eyes healthy, and the correct amount and quality of tears keep the eyes nourished and lubricated. Tears are made of three primary layers to clean, moisturize, and lubricate eyes: the lipid layer, aqueous layer, and mucin layer.
 
Every time you blink, a protective film of basal tears spreads over the surface of your eye. Dry eye disease is a chronic condition that occurs when the eyes produce poor-quality tears, or when they do not produce enough tears at all.
 
When dry eye syndrome occurs, people encounter irritation, itchiness, redness, and tired eyes. Other symptoms include pain, a pulling sensation, and pressure behind the eyes. These symptoms can range from mild and occasional to severe and continuous.
 
Dry eye is very common, affecting about 5-15% of the U.S. population and more than 11% of the global population. Certain medications (such as antihistamines and antidepressants) and environmental conditions such as pollution and low humidity are contributing factors to dry eye.
 
Dry eye disease isn’t targeted to or isolated around any one group; anyone can experience dry eye disease. An aging population, however, is more prone to dry eye disease as we make fewer tears as we grow older. Women entering menopause may also experience dry eye due to hormonal changes. 

Focus Your Sights on Key Nutrients

Diet and nutrition are important for your body’s overall health, including your eyes. Taking dietary supplements that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids as well as vitamins A, B, C, and E can help keep your eyes nourished and healthy. On the contrary, an unbalanced omega-6/omega-3 ratio in the diet is one cause of dry eye disease and has been shown to play a part in the severity of dry eye symptoms.
 
A balanced ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids is essential for regulating inflammation, preventing chronic diseases (such as dry eye disease) and supporting overall health. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in krill oil, is actively recommended by medical associations such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology to help relieve symptoms of dry eye. 
 
DHA also contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.

Study Shows Krill Oil Phospholipids Improve Dry Eye Symptoms

As shown in a study published in Ophthalmology in 2017, krill oil can help improve eye health:
 

• Krill oil supports healthy tear production by reducing tear osmolarity;
• Krill oil increases tear film stability (reduced tear stability can lead to eye irritation, blinking, and inflammation);
• Krill oil is an effective ingredient in reducing symptoms of dry eye such as inflammation, irritation, and redness.

A Bright Future for Eye Health Solutions

Future Market Insights has predicted that the global dry eye treatment category will reach $6.6 billion by the end of 2027 and will continue to rise. This growth is positive for supplement brands looking to enter or play a bigger role within the eye health space.
 
At Aker BioMarine, we see great potential for our Superba Krill oil ingredient for dry eye disease.  As an ingredient rich in marine phospholipids, omega-3 EPA and DHA, choline, and astaxanthin, Superba Krill oil works from the inside out to provide nutritional support and comfort for dry eyes by promoting healthy tear production and stability by combating inflammation, irritation, and redness.
 
Phospholipids omega-3 EPA and DHA and astaxanthin play an important role in both modulating and shortening inflammatory reactions and are clinically shown to increase the omega-3 index and to balance the omega-6/omega-3 ratio.
 
With an extensive list of possible claims backed by science, Superba Krill oil is ideal as a stand-alone eye health supplement or as the complementary ingredient for a blended multi-nutrient product. 

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About the Author: Simo Echchafai is Senior Vice President, Human Health & Nutrition, North America at Aker BioMarine, supplier of Superba Krill oil. For more information: www.akerbiomarine.com.