A new review of scientific studies shows that what you eat can help protect your eyes if you have diabetes. Researchers found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet—full of fruits, vegetables, and fish—along with staying active, may slow down or even prevent diabetic retinopathy, a serious eye condition that damages vision. The good news is that making these dietary changes early, before serious eye damage happens, could reduce the need for expensive treatments later. This research suggests that managing diabetes through food choices is just as important as taking medicine.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating healthy foods and following specific diets can prevent or slow down diabetic retinopathy, which is eye damage caused by diabetes.
  • Who participated: This was a review of many previous studies about diet and diabetic eye disease. It didn’t involve new patients but looked at what other researchers had already discovered.
  • Key finding: Eating a Mediterranean diet (lots of fruits, vegetables, and fish) combined with exercise and maintaining a healthy weight appears to protect against diabetic eye damage and may slow its progression.
  • What it means for you: If you have diabetes or prediabetes, changing your diet early—before eye problems develop—might help prevent serious vision loss. This is especially important because it’s something you can control yourself, without waiting for advanced medical treatments.

The Research Details

This was a systematic review, which means researchers looked at all the scientific studies they could find about diet, supplements, and diabetic eye disease. They read through the findings from many different studies to understand what the overall evidence shows. Rather than doing one new experiment, they gathered and analyzed information from existing research to see what patterns emerged about which foods and eating patterns seemed most protective.

The researchers focused on understanding how different diets, specific nutrients, and natural supplements might help prevent or slow diabetic retinopathy. They looked at studies about Mediterranean diets, vegetable and fruit consumption, fish intake, calorie reduction, and various natural compounds that might support eye health in people with diabetes.

A systematic review is valuable because it combines information from many studies, giving us a bigger picture than any single study could provide. By looking at the overall evidence, researchers can identify which dietary approaches have the strongest support and which ones need more research. This approach helps doctors and patients understand what dietary changes are most likely to help protect vision in people with diabetes.

This review was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, meaning other experts checked the work. However, the researchers noted that most previous studies focused on single foods or nutrients rather than looking at complete eating patterns. This means there’s still room for more comprehensive research. The review also acknowledged that while guidelines exist for diabetes management, we don’t yet fully understand exactly how each dietary component affects eye disease development.

What the Results Show

The review found strong evidence that a Mediterranean-style diet—which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish, and healthy oils while limiting processed foods—appears to protect against diabetic retinopathy. Studies showed that people who ate more fruits and vegetables had lower risk of developing eye damage from diabetes. Similarly, eating fish regularly seemed protective, likely because of beneficial compounds called omega-3 fatty acids.

Another important finding was that reducing overall calorie intake and maintaining a healthy weight helped protect eye health in people with diabetes. The research suggests that making these dietary changes early—before serious eye damage develops—is particularly effective. Early intervention through diet modification may actually slow down or even prevent the disease from progressing, which could mean avoiding more serious treatments later.

The review also highlighted that physical activity plays an important role alongside diet. Exercise helps manage blood sugar levels and appears to reduce the risk of diabetic eye disease developing or getting worse. The combination of healthy eating and regular movement seems more powerful than either approach alone.

The review examined natural compounds and supplements that might support conventional diabetes and eye treatments. While the researchers identified several natural molecules that show promise in supporting eye health, they emphasized that these should complement—not replace—standard medical care and dietary changes. The research also noted that managing blood sugar levels through diet is fundamental, as high blood sugar is the primary driver of diabetic eye damage.

This review builds on earlier research showing diet matters for diabetes management. However, the researchers noted that most previous studies looked at single foods or nutrients in isolation. This review attempted to look at the bigger picture of complete eating patterns. The findings align with what we already know about the Mediterranean diet being protective for many health conditions, and this review confirms that benefit extends to eye health in people with diabetes.

The researchers acknowledged several important limitations. Most existing studies focused on specific foods or nutrients rather than complete dietary patterns, making it harder to give comprehensive recommendations. While guidelines exist for diabetes management, the exact role of specific dietary components in preventing eye disease isn’t completely clear. Additionally, many studies were observational (watching what people eat and what happens) rather than randomized controlled trials (where researchers assign people to different diets). This means we can’t be 100% certain that diet changes cause the protective effect, though the evidence strongly suggests it.

The Bottom Line

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, consider adopting a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish while reducing processed foods and excess calories. Combine dietary changes with regular physical activity—even moderate exercise like 30 minutes of walking most days helps. Start making these changes as early as possible, ideally before eye problems develop. These recommendations have moderate to strong evidence supporting them. Work with your doctor or a dietitian to create a plan that works for your lifestyle. While supplements may play a supporting role, they should not replace healthy eating and medical treatment.

Anyone with diabetes or prediabetes should pay attention to these findings, especially those with a family history of diabetic eye disease or those in early stages of diabetes. People who want to prevent serious vision loss should prioritize these dietary changes. However, these recommendations don’t replace regular eye exams or prescribed diabetes medications—they work alongside medical treatment. People without diabetes can also benefit from these eating patterns for overall health, though the eye protection benefit specifically applies to those with diabetes.

You may notice improvements in blood sugar control within weeks of dietary changes, but protection against eye disease development typically takes months to years to become apparent. Early dietary changes are most effective at preventing disease development, so the sooner you start, the better. If you already have early signs of diabetic eye disease, dietary modifications may slow progression, but this also takes time. Consistent changes over months and years are more important than quick fixes.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of fruits, vegetables, and fish consumed, plus minutes of physical activity. Aim for at least 5 servings of produce daily and 2-3 fish meals per week. Log these weekly to see patterns and celebrate progress.
  • Set a specific goal like ‘Add one extra vegetable to dinner’ or ‘Eat fish twice this week’ rather than overhauling your entire diet at once. Use the app to plan Mediterranean-style meals and set reminders for physical activity. Track blood sugar readings alongside dietary changes to see the connection.
  • Monitor your diet quality score monthly, tracking adherence to Mediterranean diet principles. Keep a log of energy levels and any changes in how you feel. Schedule regular check-ins with your healthcare provider to monitor blood sugar control and eye health through annual dilated eye exams. Use the app to share dietary data with your doctor to support conversations about diabetes management.

This review summarizes scientific evidence about diet and diabetic eye disease but is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have diabetes or signs of eye disease, consult your eye doctor and primary care physician before making significant dietary changes. Dietary modifications should complement—not replace—prescribed medications and regular medical monitoring. Always work with your healthcare team, including an eye specialist and registered dietitian, to develop a personalized diabetes management plan. This information is educational and should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment of diabetic retinopathy.