Scientists at UC Irvine have found a way to restore vision in aging eyes by targeting how the body processes certain fats.
Building on earlier research into the ELOVL2 “aging gene,” the team showed that giving older mice specific fatty acids improved their eyesight, even reversing signs of aging in the eye.
Reversing Age-Related Vision Loss
Changes in eyesight are one of the most common signs of getting older. Sit down in a dimly lit restaurant with someone over 60, and you might hear them say, “Hold on — let me pull out my cell phone. I need more light to read the menu!” But what if it were possible to restore the sharp vision we lose with age?
Researchers at UC Irvine have been exploring exactly that. Their latest study investigates a potential therapy that could slow or even reverse the aging process in the eye while helping prevent conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
“We show the potential for reversing age-related vision loss,” explains Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD, an associate professor in UC Irvine’s Departments of Physiology and Biophysics and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Health and Medical University in Potsdam, Germany. The team published their findings in Science Translational Medicine under the title “Retinal polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reverses aging-related vision decline in mice.”
Understanding the “Aging” Gene
This work expands on an earlier study of the Elongation of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids Protein 2 (ELOVL2), a gene known to be an important marker of aging. “We showed that we have lower vision when this ELOVL2 enzyme isn’t active,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk, who is also part of the Robert M. Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine. In that previous research, boosting ELOVL2 activity in older mice increased levels of the omega−3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the eye, resulting in better vision.
In their new study, the researchers looked for another way to achieve those benefits without relying on the ELOVL2 enzyme itself.
Restoring Vision Through Fatty Acid Supplementation
As people grow older, changes in lipid metabolism reduce levels of very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs) in the retina. This decline can harm vision and contribute to AMD. The ELOVL2 gene helps produce both VLC-PUFAs and DHA, but when its function weakens with age, so does the eye’s ability to maintain these essential molecules.
To compensate, the UC Irvine team injected older mice with a specific polyunsaturated fatty acid. The result was striking — the animals’ visual performance improved. “It’s a proof-of-concept for turning lipid injection into a possible therapy,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk. “What is important is that we didn’t see the same effect with DHA.” Others have also questioned the ability of DHA to slow AMD progression.
“Our work really confirms the fact that DHA alone cannot do the work, but we have this other fatty acid that is seemingly working and improving vision in aged animals,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk. “We have also shown on a molecular level that it actually reverses the aging features.”
Genetic Clues to Macular Degeneration Progression
Furthermore, the researchers found genetic variants in the ELOVL2 enzyme that correlate with faster progression of AMD. “Now we actually have a genetic connection to the disease and its aging aspect,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk, “so we could potentially identify people at higher risk for vision loss progression.” This could lead to not only therapeutic treatment options but also targeted interventions for prevention.
These findings have only further solidified Skowronska-Krawczyk’s view of the importance of the ELOVL2 enzyme. “I am pretty convinced it’s one of the top aging genes that we should look at when we think about anti-aging therapies.”
Looking Beyond the Retina
In a collaboration with researchers from UC San Diego, Skowronska-Krawczyk has also started to explore the role of lipid metabolism in immune system aging. That study found that the lack of ELOVL2 enzyme induces accelerated aging of immune cells, suggesting that systemic lipid supplementation could potentially counteract the effects of age on the immune system. It also suggested that lipid metabolism might play a role in blood cancers.
“Our first study explored a potential therapy to address vision loss,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk, “but with the information we’ve since learned about immune aging, we are hopeful the supplementation therapy will boost the immune system as well.”
Reference: “Retinal polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reverses aging-related vision decline in mice” by Fangyuan Gao, Emily Tom, Cezary Rydz, William Cho, Alexander V. Kolesnikov, Yutong Sha, Anastasios Papadam, Samantha Jafari, Andrew Joseph, Ava Ahanchi, Nika Balalaei Someh Saraei, David C. Lyon, Andrzej Foik, Qing Nie, Felix Grassmann, Vladimir J. Kefalov and Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, 24 September 2025, Science Translational Medicine.
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ads5769
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20 Comments
What can I eat to get these?
How do I get this
weird comment. enjoy your herbal remedies and worse eyesight, I guess?
Great research
Great, so it’s a combo of gene therapy and injections of supplements… what’s not to like?
I could surely use something to improve my eyesight, but I’ll happily skip on this artificial mumbo-jumbo.
“Retinal polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements, particularly very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs), have shown potential in improving vision and reversing age-related vision loss in studies with mice. These supplements may help restore vital fatty acids in the retina, which are crucial for maintaining visual function and preventing diseases like macular degeneration. VLC-PUFAs can enhance retinal health by bypassing the ELOVL2 enzyme, which is linked to aging and vision decline. This approach may provide a new therapeutic avenue for treating vision loss.”
I don’t think any of these are available yet, and when they are, sound expensive. But macular degeneration is not something to live with easily either. Risks?
I suffered retinal damage in 2019, which was diagnosed as being caused by AMD macular degeneration, from which many in my family also suffer vision loss. I read about a new form of Omega-3 fatty acids that was being tested for treatment of AMD and alzheimers called lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) Omega. I had about 25% vision loss in my left eye from the wet form of AMD. I consulted with an ophthalmologist, and she prescribed supplements with DHA AND EPA omega-3, which stopped the vision loss from advancing, and I had some gradual improvements. I researched the availability of the new LPC omega, but it was still not commercially available. There are some foods high in LPC, such as fish eggs, and I immediately included them in my diet. My vision continued improving with fewer distortions in my left eye. Recently, a supplement became commercially available, and about eight months ago, I started taking it. Now my retinal damage is completely cured with no visual distortions!!
You mean there is a way to study this effect in humans, without having to genetically engineer mice to have eye problems and then torture them in a useless study? Amazing!
What would cure the visual distorsión caused by Retinal Hemorage Scars ? I was told : Nothing.
My other eye is blurry , due to druses, I am told by my opththalmologist. My brain MRI is full of small white patches called lesiones, or hemorages.
Perhaps it no longer matters what I ingest ?
Hi Peter, which supplement became commercially available about eight months ago that you started taking. Thanks.
What was the supplement and where is it available?
Hi Peter,
What is the supplement you started taking eight months ago? I would love to give it a try! I have had 3 surgeries for retinal detachment and still have vision impairment. Any help is appreciated!
response to Mr. Peter Chase Wetherill on October 20, 2025 4:40 am
to article “Scientists May Have Found a Simple Way to Reverse Aging Eyes”
thank u for ur informative and uplifting response, forgive me but ur statement begs the question, so what is and where do we get that wonderful recently commercially available new version of that supplement?
And what was the name of that supplement please and thank you!
You may wonder how these researchers were able to assess visual results in mice. “Animals were dark-adapted overnight and anesthetized by IP injection of ketamine (100 mg/kg) and xylazine (4 mg/kg). During recordings, a heating pad maintained body temperature at 37–38°C. The eyes were dilated using 1% atropine sulfate (rod dark adaptation experiments) or 1% tropicamide and 2.5% phenylephrine (regular scotopic and photopic recordings). The eyes were lubricated with a corneal gel. The reference electrode needle was inserted under the skin at the skull. The responses for eleven stimuli of increasing intensities were recorded and averaged.” Of course, any results from this type of animal torture are completely unreliable, in addition to the genetically engineering needed to “create” these poor mice.
The fact is that research on mice are of unknown value to humans, and are cruel and unreliable. See my article, Of Mice and Men, The Problems with Studying Mice to Learn about Men. https://www.academia.edu/127948044/Of_Mice_and_Men_The_Problems_with_Studying_Mice_to_Learn_about_Men
Very wise and pertinent comment. Thank you.
It’s really nice that you tell me that stuff.But I already knew it because of my own research, and i’m not a doctor and I could figure this out.So what’s the deal? How much omega three do we need each day?And where do we get it from out of our food?That is useless it seems?
Can not see in my left eye can you please help me ? That would have a good chance Steve I’m going to say dumpy dopey
Kindly please help me i can’t see both of my eyes are no longer seeing, please assists.
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