Can Better Gut Health Protect Your Vision?
Most people know a healthy gut reduces the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. But emerging research is pointing to a surprising new frontier: your gut microbiome may also play a role in protecting your eyesight.
Dr. Dimitra Skondra, a retinal ophthalmologist and researcher at NYU Langone, is bringing attention to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — a condition affecting 20 million Americans over the age of 55. There is currently no cure and no fully effective treatment.1 Unlike cancer or heart disease, AMD rarely gets the attention it deserves, perhaps because it isn't life-threatening. But as Dr. Skondra notes, patients who begin losing their vision quickly discover how profoundly it affects quality of life.
AMD begins subtly — mild blurriness, slower dark adaptation. Over time, vision can become wavy and distorted, or a persistent dark spot may appear at the center of sight. Early research now suggests that gut microbiome markers may predict the severity of macular degeneration, opening the door to a new preventive approach.1
Her guiding principle for patients is simple: "Whatever is good for the heart is good for the eyes as well."
Two Habits She Practices Daily
1. Eat More Plants — Especially Beans
Dr. Skondra recommends a whole-food, plant-rich diet and advises cutting back on ultraprocessed products — even those marketed as "healthy," like vegan meat alternatives. She encourages aiming for 30 different plant foods per week to maintain a diverse, resilient microbiome.
The mechanism is straightforward: dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, and legumes is fermented by gut bacteria into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) — compounds that support immune function and help regulate blood sugar.2
Her personal go-to lunch? A can of beans topped with tinned sardines, olive oil, vinegar, and fresh herbs. Quick, affordable, and packed with fiber, omega-3s, and plant diversity.
"Beans are the new superfood. They're very high in fiber, but also very high in protein, and they're affordable." — Dr. Skondra
2. Add "Exercise Snacks" Throughout the Day
Strength training is already recommended for older adults to preserve muscle mass, but Dr. Skondra highlights an additional benefit: muscle contractions release anti-inflammatory molecules called myokines, which may also support gut health.1
For those with packed schedules, she recommends "exercise snacks" — short bursts of movement woven into the day. Think: a set of squats between meetings, push-ups before a call, or jumping jacks during a break. No gym required.
"Walking is great for cardiovascular health, but you need some resistance training." — Dr. Skondra
The Everhealth Perspective
At Everhealth, we've long believed that foundational gut health underpins nearly every aspect of long-term wellness. Dr. Skondra's work reinforces what the science continues to show: the gut is a gateway organ, and caring for it has ripple effects we're only beginning to fully understand — including, potentially, our vision.
Supporting your gut with a fiber-rich diet, consistent movement, and pharmacist-formulated supplements is one of the most proactive investments you can make in your long-term health.
Footnotes
1 Skondra, D. Business Insider, July 2026. businessinsider.com
2 Koh et al. Cell, 2016. doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2016.05.041