What Chronic Inflammation Has to Do with AMD

When most people are diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), they’re told it’s just part of getting older. Something to watch. Something to monitor. Something to inject, perhaps—but not something you can influence through your everyday choices.

I disagree.

As a nutritional therapist specialising in AMD, I see something different—something hopeful. I see a condition that’s deeply influenced by chronic inflammation. And that means there is something we can do.

What is chronic inflammation?

Inflammation gets a bad rap, but it’s actually a natural and helpful response in the short term. If you cut your finger or catch a virus, inflammation kicks in to help your body heal.

The trouble begins when inflammation lingers long after it’s needed. That’s what we call chronic inflammation—and it’s this ongoing, low-level fire that can quietly damage tissues and accelerate ageing from the inside out.

How does this relate to AMD?

Your eyes are incredibly active organs. The retina, in particular, has a high demand for energy and is constantly producing waste as part of normal function. In a healthy system, that waste is cleared away efficiently. But in AMD, something gets in the way—and chronic inflammation is often part of the picture.

Here’s what happens:

• Inflammation damages the delicate cells in the retina, including the all-important retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

• This damage slows down the clearance of waste products, like drusen.

• Waste builds up, which creates more oxidative stress.

• That stress fuels more inflammation… and the cycle continues.

  
  

This is the vicious loop at the heart of AMD progression.

So where is this inflammation coming from?

The food we eat is one of the biggest influences on inflammation. Certain foods can fan the flames, while others can help put them out.

Modern diets are often high in ultra-processed foods, seed oils, sugar, and refined carbs—all of which can drive inflammation in the body. Add in poor sleep, stress, a lack of movement, and potential gut health issues, and it’s no surprise that inflammation becomes chronic.

The good news? If your lifestyle helped create this situation, your lifestyle can help change it too.

What can we do to calm inflammation?

This is where nutrition becomes such a powerful tool. By shifting the balance of what we eat—and reducing our exposure to hidden triggers—we can start to:

• Lower oxidative stress

• Calm inflammatory signals in the body

• Support the cells of the retina

• Slow the progression of AMD

• Potentially even improve how our vision feels day to day

  
  

It starts with removing the most inflammatory foods and replacing them with nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory choices. In my course and 1-1 work, we focus on real food—oily fish, colourful vegetables, healthy fats, good-quality protein, and plenty of antioxidant-rich nutrients.

We also look at blood sugar balance, gut health, and stress—all of which influence inflammation and therefore eye health.

You have more power than you think

If you’ve ever been told “There’s nothing you can do”—please know that’s simply not true.

Reducing chronic inflammation is one of the most powerful ways you can protect your vision, and it’s something you can influence every single day.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.

Ready to take the first step?

Book a free 30-minute health coaching call with me and lets get you moving forward towards better eye health.