Diet Rich In Vegetable Oils May Reduce Risk Of Blindness Caused By Retinopathy

Incubating retinal cells with vegetable oils, particularly olive oil, induces biochemical and biophysical changes in the cell membrane that seem to prevent and slow development of retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness. Vegetable oil fatty acids are absorbed into cells of the retina, increasing plasma membrane fluidity. This in turn increases the flexibility of the membrane and makes it easier for light to pass through the eye. A diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids and olive oil may reduced the risk of retinopathy, they said.