Skip to content

German Ophthalmologists Explore Gut Microbiome's Role in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Could your gut health hold the key to preventing age-related macular degeneration? Top German ophthalmologists are set to explore this groundbreaking connection at the upcoming DOG conference in Berlin.

There is an eye brows and eye. And the pupil and iris is in brown color.
There is an eye brows and eye. And the pupil and iris is in brown color.

The upcoming Congress of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) in Berlin, from September 25 to 28, 2025, will delve into a groundbreaking topic: the potential role of gut microbiota in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This significant public health issue affects approximately 7 million people in Germany, with around 1 in 4 people over 65 at risk. The conference will explore how an unhealthy microbiome can influence AMD progression and potential therapeutic-preventive approaches.

Leading the discussion are experts like Priv.-Doz. Dr. Dr. med. Petra P. Larsen from the University Eye Clinic Bonn, Prof. Dr. med. Siegfried Priglinger from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, and Prof. Dr. med. Amelie Pielen from Maximilians Eye Clinic Nuremberg, among others. They will present findings that suggest substances from the gut can reach the retina, potentially influencing degenerative processes. Initial results indicate that dietary interventions or probiotic supplements could positively impact AMD. If confirmed, certain marker substances in the blood could serve as early diagnostic indicators for AMD.

The conference will also explore how an unfavorable shift in microbiome composition (dysbiosis), caused by factors like unhealthy diet or chronic stress, can allow inflammation-promoting substances to enter the bloodstream and potentially reach the retina. Differences in microbiome composition between AMD patients and healthy individuals further support this connection. The gut flora's influence on health is well-established, with disruptions linked to conditions like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and Alzheimer's dementia.

The DOG conference in Berlin aims to shed light on the potential role of gut microbiota in AMD, a leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. With the possibility of dietary interventions or diagnostic markers, the conference could pave the way for new AMD management strategies. The gathered experts hope to advance our understanding of this significant health issue and its potential links to the gut microbiome.

Read also:

Latest