PD540 - NUTRITIONAL THERAPY IN OPHTHALMOLOGY – PATIENTS‘ INTEREST AND MOTIVATION

PD540

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY IN OPHTHALMOLOGY – PATIENTS‘ INTEREST AND MOTIVATION

N. Arend^1,*

¹Ophthalmology, Eye Center Olching, Olching, Germany

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

Methods: 100 representative patients answered a structured interview questionnaire about their nutrition behaviour and interest in therapeutic diet for their ophthalmologic diseases. Data of our patient files was correlated with their answers.

Results: Over 70% of the patient were interested in and followed a healthy diet, 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, AMD and glaucoma. There was no correlation of the nutrition interest with the dieses stage, presence of diabetes or need for IVOM-therapy.

60% agreed to pay themselves for the consultation albeit low values. Advanced interest and adherence to a healthy diet but not sex, higher age and stages of disease correlated with more likelihood of self-paying.

Conclusion: Our interviewed patients had high interest in nutritional therapy of ophthalmologic diseases, as well as theoretical motivation. Patients with sicca, glaucoma and AMD were more motivated but not related to their stage of disease. Most patients will only pay small amounts for the consultation.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared