As your mother likely advised you, eating foods rich in Vitamin A (found in carrots) and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin can significantly lower the risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD). According to an AREDS study, these nutrients can reduce progression to advanced AMD by 33%.

Lutein & Zeaxanthin

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to an investment portfolio – in particular with regards to what appears as “good deals”. So much for keeping tabs on their money! Diets rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, the yellow plant pigments found concentrated in the macula of the eye, have been shown to provide protection from age-related macular degeneration while increasing visual performance, according to a study published in Archives of Ophthalmology – one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Researchers conducted several lutein and zeaxanthin intake studies as both cohort trials and clinical trials, reviewing their findings. Study results demonstrated that those consuming high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin had a lower risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration – a leading cause of blindness among those of European descent. Lutein serves to block harmful blue wavelengths while attenuating oxidative stress which damages retinas.

Consuming a diet rich in dark leafy green vegetables and brightly-hued orange, yellow and other colorful fruits and vegetables has long been recognized as beneficial to eye health, but research has recently demonstrated that nutritional supplements containing lutein and zeaxanthin offer extra protection from dry macular degeneration.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are two of the seven antioxidant carotenoids that comprise macular pigment in your eyes, known as macular carotenoids. Naturally occurring xanthophylls found in foods like spinach, kale, corn, paprika and eggs; or taken in supplement form along with vitamins C & E, beta carotene zinc & omega 3 fatty acids for added benefits.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential to all cells, including those of the eye. Studies have demonstrated that it reduces risk for cataracts and macular degeneration as well as supporting absorption of other nutrients such as carotenoids, Vitamin E and zinc for eye health. Furthermore, its antioxidant properties may provide protection from dry eyes. Foods rich in Vitamin C such as leafy green vegetables (spinach, collard greens kale etc), citrus fruits berries red peppers kiwis are great sources.

Early stages of dry macular degeneration typically cause vision to remain normal or only slightly blurry, yet as the disease progresses a central blind spot may arise due to macula atrophy and formation of protein deposits known as drusen.

AREDS study data demonstrated that higher doses of vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc could reduce progression of advanced AMD by 25%. While its formula no longer exists, similar benefits can still be realized by taking robust multivitamin such as AOR’s Maximum Vitality.

Studies have linked Vitamin C intake with reduced cataract risks for people over 50. Since Vitamin C does not occur naturally in our bodies, it’s crucial that enough is consumed through diet or supplements if possible – vitamin C also acts as a powerful anti-oxidant and immune booster!

Vitamin D

New research published in Maturitas, an European menopause journal, indicates that vitamin D plays an essential role in eye health and may lower your risk of macular degeneration (AMD). Researchers discovered that individuals who had higher concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D produced by sunlight exposure had less advanced AMD than those with lower concentrations.

Dry macular degeneration (DMD) is caused by the progressive thinning and breakdown of your macula, making it increasingly difficult to see fine details at the center of your visual field. To combat this vision loss, the National Eye Institute conducted two large studies called AREDS 1 and 2, both conducted under strict protocols conducted by their experts at AREDS and AREDS 2, showing that certain nutrients may provide protection from this form of vision loss.

Effective treatments for dry macular degeneration typically include high doses of vitamins and antioxidants that have been clinically shown to work, such as essential fatty acids such as DHA and EPA, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, and vitamin C – these nutrients can be found both in multivitamins as well as special macular degeneration supplements like Preserve Mac Forte Advanced.

When choosing a supplement for macular degeneration, it’s essential that it contains FloraGLO lutein as studied in AREDS 2. Additionally, try to find one with 5 parts lutein to 2 parts zeaxanthin ratio listed on its product label – both are naturally occurring carotenoid compounds that work to filter harmful blue wavelengths away from retina. They can typically be found in dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, oranges, and tangerines.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps combat oxidative stress, thought to play an important part in age-related macular degeneration. Studies such as Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) have demonstrated its beneficial properties against macular degeneration progression.

Your body can obtain vitamin E through foods like dark green vegetables, almonds, sunflower seeds, peanuts and avocados. A deficiency is rare; studies indicate that taking recommended amounts could lower your risk for macular degeneration and other chronic diseases. Vitamin E contains eight different substances; alpha-tocopherol has been studied extensively as a possible preventative against certain eye conditions; naturally found in many foods as well as commercial supplements containing fat-soluble forms (R,dl).

Macular degeneration affects up to 90 percent of cases, and occurs when protein deposits known as drusen accumulate under the macula or when retinal thickness decreases. Less frequently, wet macular degeneration is caused when new blood vessels grow (neovascularization), leak fluid into or bleed underneath retina and blur central vision. If wet macular degeneration is suspected, your doctor may recommend fluorescein angiography or optical coherence tomography to identify abnormal new blood vessels that have formed beneath retinal surface.

Zinc

Disease of the Macula (MDM) affects your eye’s macula, the part responsible for central vision. In its dry form, MDM gradually degrades sharp and straight-ahead vision; its wet form, however, occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath your retina and leak blood or fluid into your macula, often caused by smoking or high cholesterol levels. Symptoms typically include blurred central vision which usually requires medical treatment to recover from.

Vitamin supplements alone cannot cure macular degeneration; however, certain nutrients may help slow its progress and preserve some visual clarity. Speak to your physician about which macular degeneration vitamins and supplements might best suit you.

Millions of people over 50 suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The progressive condition damages a specific area of the eye called the macula, making it hard to see details and distance at close range. ProMed Eye Health’s MACULA 2(r) ESSENTIALS AREDS 2 PLUS supplements have been designed to meet and surpass standards and findings from studies such as AREDS study, Vision Institute of Canada LAST Trial (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial), Health Canada as well as many others.

Macular degeneration vitamins that can be found in foods include lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamins C, E, and zinc. A diet rich in these essential nutrients is key to healthy eyes; food sources include dark leafy greens, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, egg yolks, tuna salmon halibut among others. Being exposed to sunlight may also increase vitamin D intake.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to overall health and have been shown to decrease heart disease, depression, arthritis and some cancers. Omega-3s also play a vital role in vision health by providing protection from macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome and glaucoma. Your body doesn’t make Omega-3s on its own – you must consume or take supplement forms regularly.

One study revealed that those who consumed higher intakes of Omega-3 fatty acids were 30% less likely to suffer macular degeneration compared with those who drank less Omega-3s, which is consistent with previous research and likely attributable to their anti-inflammatory properties.

Salmon, tuna and trout are great sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, along with leafy greens like kale and collard greens. Flaxseed oil or ground flaxseeds also contain this nutrient; additionally many infant formulas now come with fortified Omega-3 formula for babies not breast fed.

Maintaining eye health requires eating a varied and colorful diet of colorful fruits and vegetables, such as at least five servings of vegetables per week and four of fruit, as well as refraining from smoking and managing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes that increase risk for eye disease. Also follow-up regularly with an ophthalmologist in order to monitor any signs of eye disease.