Seniors cooking eye-healthy meals together in a community kitchen.

Eating for Eye Health: How Community Kitchens Can Help Fight Macular Degeneration

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how community-based cooking programs are emerging as a delicious and effective strategy to combat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and improve overall eye health."

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, impacting countless older adults and leading to progressive central vision loss, often resulting in social isolation and diminished quality of life. While there's no cure for AMD, research suggests that dietary interventions – like the Mediterranean diet or increased intake of carotenoids – may offer protection against its progression. But how can we translate this knowledge into practical, everyday solutions?

Imagine a place where older adults can learn to prepare delicious, eye-healthy meals while connecting with others in their community. This is the power of community kitchens, and it’s the focus of a groundbreaking pilot study called "Eating for Eye Health." This initiative explores the feasibility of using participant-informed community kitchens to promote dietary changes that benefit macular health.

This innovative approach tackles the challenge of AMD from multiple angles, providing not only nutritional education but also fostering a sense of community and social support. Keep reading to discover the key findings of this study and how community kitchens might revolutionize the way we approach eye health.

The "Eating for Eye Health" Intervention: A Recipe for Success

Seniors cooking eye-healthy meals together in a community kitchen.

The "Eating for Eye Health" study recruited adults (50+ years) with documented visual impairment due to dry AMD. Participants were invited along with a partner, carer, or friend for support. The core of the intervention was a dynamic cookery activity, divided into small groups and tasked with preparing different courses of a three-course meal rich in carotenoid-rich foods – nutrients known to promote eye health.

The intervention wasn't just about cooking. It started with an ice-breaker session to foster a comfortable and supportive environment. Crucially, the cookery activity was co-designed with participants, ensuring the meals were appealing, culturally relevant, and easy to prepare. The program also incorporated integrated health promotion information, educating participants about the specific benefits of different foods for their eye health.

Here’s what made this intervention so effective:

Participant-centered design: The program was tailored to the needs and preferences of the participants, ensuring engagement and adherence.
Social connection: Cooking and eating together fostered a sense of community and reduced social isolation.
Nutritional education: Participants learned about the specific nutrients that support eye health and how to incorporate them into their diet.
Practical skills: The cookery activity provided participants with the skills and confidence to prepare eye-healthy meals at home.

The primary outcome measured was participants' self-reported capability in cooking skills for eye health, evaluated before and after the intervention using a ten-point confidence scale. Secondary outcomes included participant-rated taste acceptability of the food and their subjective experience of the intervention, gathered through written qualitative feedback and a standardized email questionnaire.

A Promising Recipe for the Future of Eye Health

The findings are encouraging, 12 adults participated in the study. Participants reported increased confidence in cooking skills, improved taste acceptability of food, and positive subjective experiences of "social participation" and "peer support". This pilot study offers compelling evidence supporting the feasibility of National Health Service social prescribing of community cookery programs. The results suggest that community kitchens can empower older adults with AMD to enhance their cooking capabilities, broaden their social opportunities, and implement meaningful dietary changes to safeguard their eye health. As the population ages, innovative approaches like this are essential to combating vision loss and promoting healthy aging.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32186-x, Alternate LINK

Title: Dietary Change For Macular Health Of Older People: Eating For Eye Health, A Pilot Community Kitchens Intervention

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: The Lancet

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Rose M Gilbert, Ann Rawlings, Michael Dixon, Susana S Couto Irving, Sobha Sivaprasad

Published: 2018-11-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and how does it affect older adults?

Age-related Macular Degeneration, or AMD, primarily affects older adults, leading to a gradual loss of central vision. This happens because AMD damages the macula, which is the part of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision needed for tasks like reading and driving. While there's no definitive cure, interventions focusing on diet, particularly those rich in carotenoids found in vegetables, may help slow its progression. Furthermore, the social isolation that may come from vision loss also affects overall health.

How did the "Eating for Eye Health" study use community kitchens to combat vision loss?

The "Eating for Eye Health" study demonstrated that community kitchens can effectively promote dietary changes beneficial for individuals with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). By involving participants in preparing carotenoid-rich meals and integrating health promotion education, the study significantly increased participants' confidence in cooking skills and their awareness of how diet impacts eye health. The pilot's success suggests that similar initiatives could be expanded.

What key elements made the "Eating for Eye Health" intervention so effective for participants?

The "Eating for Eye Health" intervention was effective because it used a participant-centered design, tailoring the cookery activities to the preferences and cultural backgrounds of those involved. This increased engagement and adherence. The intervention also prioritized social connection, fostering a sense of community during cooking and eating which combatted social isolation, a common issue among older adults with vision loss. The program further provided practical skills and nutritional education empowering participants to make informed dietary choices.

Why are carotenoids important for eye health, particularly in the context of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), and how did the "Eating for Eye Health" initiative incorporate them?

Carotenoids are essential nutrients known to support eye health, particularly for those at risk of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). These compounds, found in foods like leafy green vegetables, help protect the macula from damage. The "Eating for Eye Health" initiative focused on incorporating carotenoid-rich foods into meals prepared by participants, teaching them how to easily integrate these nutrients into their diets to support eye health. The program also highlighted the importance of the Mediterranean diet for slowing down macular degeneration.

What are the implications of the "Eating for Eye Health" study for social prescribing within the National Health Service (NHS) and how could it benefit individuals with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

The "Eating for Eye Health" study points to the potential for social prescribing within the National Health Service (NHS). Social prescribing involves healthcare providers referring patients to non-medical community-based activities, like community cookery programs, to address health and wellbeing needs. Given the study's findings, suggesting community kitchens can improve cooking skills, social engagement, and dietary habits among older adults with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the NHS could integrate these programs as part of a holistic treatment plan for AMD patients, improving both their physical and mental wellbeing. While the study focused on the effect on confidence, acceptability and social participation, future studies could explore the direct impact on vision health.