What does your digestive system have to do with your eyes?

In Episode 85 of The Eye-Q Podcast™, Dr. Rani Banik, MD, speaks with ophthalmologist and functional medicine practitioner Dr. Radka Toms, MD, about the emerging gut–eye axis—the complex relationship among the intestinal microbiome, immune system, metabolism, inflammation, and ocular health.

They explore how an imbalance in the gut microbiome may influence inflammation throughout the body and why researchers are investigating potential connections with dry eye, rosacea, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.

You’ll also learn:

• What gut dysbiosis means
• Why intestinal barrier and immune health may matter to the eyes
• How blood sugar and metabolic health affect vision
• Why eye symptoms can sometimes reflect broader systemic issues
• How fiber, plant diversity, and fermented foods support the microbiome
• Why probiotics are not necessarily one-size-fits-all
• How nutrition and lifestyle can complement—not replace—medical eye care

Dr. Toms also shares how her own health experience inspired her interest in food as medicine, functional medicine, and nutritional ophthalmology.

Dr. Radka Toms is an ophthalmologist, functional medicine practitioner, and integrative nutrition health coach specializing in nutritional ophthalmology, metabolic health, and the gut–eye connection.

Follow The Eye-Q Podcast™ for expert conversations about eye health, brain health, migraine, nutrition, healthy aging, and integrative medicine.

This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized medical advice. Research concerning the gut–eye axis is still evolving, and microbiome-focused treatments for eye disease remain investigational.