Mediterranean Diet: Healthy Eating for Healthier Eyes

By Kierstan Boyd for the American Academy of Ophthalmology Published Apr. 03, 2024

Some foods may lower the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration

Eating the nutritious vegetables, fruits and fish of a Mediterranean-inspired diet may help protect you from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

A European study and a Portuguese study both show that a diet rich in plant-based foods and fish, with less dairy and red meat, may reduce your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or prevent existing AMD from becoming worse.

The Mediterranean diet generally includes:

• vegetables (especially leafy, green ones like spinach);
• fruits;
• nuts (like almonds, cashews, pistachios and walnuts);
• whole grains (such as complete grains of wheat, rice, oats, barley, rye, quinoa);
• fish (such as fresh or water-packed salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel or herring); and
• olive or canola oil instead of butter.

Researchers found lower rates of macular degeneration among people who ate more vegetables, legumes (beans), fish, cereals, and especially fruits. In fact, one study showed that people who ate at least 150 grams (just over 5 ounces) of fruits per day lowered their risk of developing AMD by 15%.

Conversely, people who had AMD more often ate fast food, ready-made meals, dairy products, and meat compared with people who did not have macular degeneration.

Other past research has shown that certain vitamin and mineral supplements play a role for some people in lowering their AMD risk. The studies examining specific diets help show that foods may also be protective in preventing vision loss from macular degeneration and highlight the possible vision-saving benefits of healthy daily eating habits.