While diet can’t cure GA, smart food choices may help slow its progression. “Foods that are linked to better overall health are also linked to better eye health,” says Nimesh A. Patel, MD, the director of pediatric retina at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
So which foods tend to be best for geographic atrophy? Here are six options to incorporate into a healthy-eye diet. You should also be sure to follow any treatment recommendations from your healthcare provider.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like spinach are packed with the healthy-eye nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin. These are carotenoids, a group of plant compounds that give fruits and vegetables their vibrant colors, and they are especially helpful for preventing and slowing the progression of GA.
“Lutein and zeaxanthin are concentrated in the macula, which is the very center part of your retina, and that is the most important area for vision. It’s also, unfortunately, the area where geographic atrophy tends to hit,” Dr. Patel says.
Oysters
“Without enough zinc, oxidative stress and inflammation can hit harder, leaving the retina more vulnerable to GA,” says Bess Berger, RDN, founder of Nutrition by Bess, a private nutrition practice in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Citrus Fruits
Tomatoes
Fish
Fatty fish like salmon supply omega-3 fatty acids, a class of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are associated with numerous health benefits, including vision support.
“There have been some observational studies suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids can be helpful in supporting retina cell membranes,” Patel says.
Nuts
“Think of it as a shield that keeps free radicals from chipping away at your eye,” Berger says.
The Takeaway
- A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins may help slow geographic atrophy progression.
- The best foods for GA include those that naturally contain vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and lycopene.
- Be sure to pair a healthy diet with any treatments recommended by your healthcare provider for the best protection against further eye damage.
Edmund Tsui, MD
Medical Reviewer
Edmund Tsui, MD, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
He earned his medical degree from Dartmouth. He completed an ophthalmology residency at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where he was chief resident, followed by a fellowship in uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology at the University of California in San Francisco.
Dr. Tsui is committed to advancing the field of ophthalmology. His research focuses on utilizing state-of-the-art ophthalmic imaging technology to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of uveitis. He is a co-investigator in several multicenter clinical trials investigating therapeutics for uveitis. He is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications and has given talks at national and international conferences.
Along with his clinical and research responsibilities, Tsui teaches medical students and residents. He is on the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology's professional development and education committee, as well as the advocacy and outreach committee, which seeks to increase funding and awareness of vision research. He also serves on the editorial board of Ophthalmology and the executive committee of the American Uveitis Society.
Lauren Bedosky
Author
When she's not writing about health and fitness — her favorite topics being anything related to running and strength training — she's reading up on the latest and greatest news in the field and working on her own health goals.