Consider nutrition for treating macular degeneration

Dr. Michael Dollin, MD, FRCSC, Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Duration: 4 minute and 23 seconds

If you have early macular degeneration and you’re worried about what you can do to help your eyes, one of the things your eye care provider will consider is whether you should be taking an eye vitamin to prevent progression of your macular degeneration. If you're dry macular degeneration is diagnosed very early you likely don’t need these vitamins, however, if it progresses to more advanced forms of drusen then a vitamin supplementation may be of benefit. A typical supplementation is called the AREDS 2 formula. And this has been shown to decrease the risk of progression to more advanced forms of macular degeneration. The progression is typically slowed by about 30% with this vitamin cocktail. Vitamins in the AREDS2 cocktail include vitamin C, E, and zinc all of which are antioxidants that help the eye deal with the stresses of aging.

There are foods that can also be considered that may decrease the risk of macular degeneration progression. For example, foods high in the antioxidant Vitamin A and beta-carotene are recommended, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, dark leafy greens, melon cantaloupe, winter squash and apricots.

Foods high in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are also very beneficial for eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in green leafy vegetables, and yellow and orange pigment foods such as spinach, kale, turnip greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, collards, Brussel sprouts, winter squash, summer squash, and pumpkin.

Nuts and seeds are a great source of Vitamin E and healthy omega3 oils like ALA and are a great addition to your diet. Omega3 fatty acids help fight inflammation in the body which researchers believe play a role in age related macular degeneration. These fatty acids can also help lower bad cholesterol which have been linked to the condition. Consider having a couple of meals per week with fish such as salmon, whitefish, black cod, anchovies or tuna.

Foods containing zinc and copper, or trace minerals, can also be of value both directly and indirectly. An example of this is zinc and how it helps the body absorb the antioxidant vitamin A. Meats such as chicken, pork and liver, as well as eggs, wheat germ, seafood and legumes such as chickpeas offer this important mineral. For copper, once again eat lots of leafy greens such as kale and spinach, as well as nuts and seeds, legumes and eggs. Darkly pigmented fruits such as blueberries and raspberries are also a good dietary choice for macular degeneration patients. These types of darkly pigmented fruits contain lutein which again is protective of your retina from light damage. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit have high amounts of vitamin C which helps the body form and maintain connective tissue, including collagen found in the cornea of the eye. Vitamin C also supports the health of blood vessels in the eye.

When discussing diet in relation to age related macular degeneration, it’s also important to highlight foods to avoid. It has been shown there might be a slight increased risk with diets high in animal fats in the progression of macular degeneration, so if you are at risk for macular degeneration you may want to limit red meets. Other examples of foods to avoid include: fried foods, processed meats, processed foods that contain trans fats like chips and cookies, sugary drinks and sweets, high-fat dairy foods, soda and alcohol, refined carbohydrates, including pasta, white bread, and white rice.

For more information on how vitamin supplements and nutrition can help prevent or manage age relation dry macular degeneration, please speak to your local eye care specialist.

Presenter: Dr. Michael Dollin, Ophthalmologist, Ottawa, ON

Local Practitioners: Ophthalmologist