BOSTON -- If your eyes are dry and irritated, the problem may be in your diet.

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health suggested that eating a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids could bring tears to your eyes -- in a good way.

Sage Marianne had dry eye for years. Finally, her symptoms became unbearable.

"I could not tolerate light of any kind. I could not tolerate a breeze. I could not keep them open," Marianne said.

Dry eye is more common in women than men. It can be caused by aging, medical conditions, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, medications, exposure to the sun and wind, and too much reading and staring at a computer screen.

Diet is another major factor, according to a study of 32,000 women.

"We found the more omega 3s in their diet, the lower the risk of dry eye. The less of omega 3s in the diet, the higher the risk of dry eye," Tufts New England Medical Center Eye Center's Dr. Jeffrey Gilbard said.

Omega 3s are considered good fats. They are found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel, as well as in flaxseed and flaxseed oil. They play a dramatic role in keeping the eyes moist.

"They thicken the oil layer of the tear film, so your tears evaporate less. They increase tear production, and finally, they decrease inflammation that people have in their lids, which can make dry eye worse," Gilbard said.

Two servings of fish per day would give the best results, but that's a lot of salmon.

"I have salmon once, twice a week. I try and eat healthy," Marianne said. "I try."

Supplements are an option. Gilbard has created his own line, which he said are clinically proven to reduce the most severe cases of dry eye.

Marianne said that she is convinced.

"I do feel 90 to 95 percent better," she said.