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Both diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration are responsive to dietary sodium restriction.  Walter Kempner, M.D., professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, noted the improvement in diabetic retinopathy findings with photography and reported his observations in 1954 and 1958.  The dietary regimen, a rice-fruit diet, which he prescribed contained only 200 mg of sodium.  Weeks or months later, after improvement in the patient's circulatory status had been obtained, the sodium restriction was made less onerous, usually to 750 mg per day.  He noted not only reversal but also inactivation of the retinopathy for many of his patients.  The calorie content for the diet was derived from carbohydrates almost entirely.  Protein and fat had only a 10% representation in the regimen.

Kempner's findings for diabetic retinopathy have been confirmed by us (see below).  Although patients of the present era do not feel compelled to maintain the spartan diet of Kempner's, reduction of sodium content to the 1000 mg level can be immensely beneficial.

We are also longtime advocates of a low salt and low fat diet for those with age-related macular degeneration.  Effects from the regiment are particularly apparent for those with soft drusen and those who are seen at an early time in the disease process.  But even those with more advanced changes can show improvement.

The effect of dietary measures for both diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration does not become apparent immediately.  Oftentimes the effort must be sustained for 24 or more months before improvement in the retinal findings becomes apparent.  We find that laser treatment continues to be an important part of the effort to regain a better status for the retina.  The effect of diet in achieving the most desirable result is not to be underestimated, nevertheless.