Children born prematurely suffer from a series of complications and the highest risk they have is to go blind, as the eyes are the last organs which are formed. Medics suggest that a supplement of omega 3 fatty acids can save their sight. The disease is called retinopathy and it occurs if children are born before their eyes have finished growing. These children experience a loss of blood vessels in the eye, which means that the retina does not get enough oxygen.

The lack of oxygen sets off alarm signals that spur new vessel growth, but these new vessels become deformed. Toward the end of the disease, the retina can come loose, and when that happens, there's very little medics can do.

Scientists at Sahlgrenska Academy conducted a study on mice suffering from retinopathy which were given food enriched with either omega-3 or omega-6. Mice that ate omega-3 initially lost fewer blood vessels in their retinas than mice that ate omega-6, and they evinced only half as much abnormal vessel growth.

Their retinas also showed lower inflammatory activity. Another aspect scientists conducting the study observed was that after the initial loss of vessels, our studies indicate that the vessels grew back both more rapidly and more effectively in mice that were fed omega-3. It is believed that this is caused by an enhanced oxygen supply and a dampening of the inflammation alarm that otherwise can lead to the formation of abnormal vessels.

A problem children who are born very prematurely or extremely prematurely have is that they encounter difficulties in getting omega-3 from their mothers.

Encouraged by these findings, the next step medics want to try is to give omega 3 essential fatty acids to prematurely born babies and to their nursing mothers. Omega 3 fats are known to be transmitted through maternal milk from mother to child and in this way, the baby receives the necessary nutrients.

Omega 3 fats are also the building blocks of many types of cells, including nerve cells and it is known that the brain of prematurely born babies can also be affected, depending on the remaining time until a normal birth. That is why medics recommend pregnant women to increase the omega 3 fats in their diet so the baby would receive the necessary proteins and nutrients even before they are born, ensuring their organs will develop normally.