[Nutritional therapy in ophthalmology-patients' interest and motivation].

Background: Several therapeutic diets are known for ophthalmologic diseases. Therefore, the present study evaluates the interest of our patients in healthy and therapeutic nutrition.

Methods: In all, 100 representative patients answered a structured interview questionnaire about their nutrition behavior and interest in therapeutic diet for their ophthalmologic diseases. Data from our patient files were correlated with their answers.

Results: Over 70% of the patient were interested in and followed a healthy diet and ate fruits and vegetables daily. Only one third had fish weekly. Two thirds showed high interest in therapeutic diet, especially patients of higher age and with the diagnoses sicca, age related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. There was no correlation of nutrition interest with the patient sex, disease stage, presence of diabetes or need for intravitreal drug administration. In all, 60% agreed to pay for the consultation, albeit rather low amounts. Greater interest and adherence to a healthy diet but not sex, higher age or stages of disease correlated with the willingness pay.

Conclusion: Our patients who were surveyed had high interest in nutritional therapy for ophthalmologic diseases, and were also theoretically motivated to implement it. Patients with sicca, glaucoma and AMD were more motivated; however this was not related to the stage of their disease. Most patients are willing to only pay small amounts for the consultation.