AMD and your diet

Eating a Mediterranean diet, particularly a lot of oily fish, is believed to be beneficial for even those with early to intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the general AMD population with no protective genes, a diet rich in fish reduced the progression of intermediate AMD, with bilateral large drusen, to geographic atrophy by 31%. However, in population with protective genes as well it reduced the progression to late stage AMD by 65%. Increased adherence to Mediterranean diet reduced progression from intermediate to late stage AMD, with geographic atrophy or neovascularisation, by 25-40%.

While there is genetic association with AMD, there is no role for genetic testing to predict progression and or response to treatment. The gene for complement factor H (CFH) on chromosome 1 is associated with increased drusen formation and ARMS2 on chromosome 10 is associated with increased haemorrhage and poor visual acuity as per the AREDS/ AREDS 2 analysis.

A Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes; moderate in fish, white meat and whole grains; moderate to low in alcohol, red meat and refined sugar; with a high ratio of mono-unsaturated to saturated fat intake.

None of the systemic medications, including aspirin, beta-blockers, thyroxine, NSAIDS or statins have been found to be associated with either increased risk or protective effect on AMD.