Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye condition that gradually impairs central vision. The loss of light-sensing cells from your macula (part of your retina that helps you see fine details when looking straight ahead) results in reduced ability to read, drive or perform other daily tasks requiring sharp vision such as reading and driving a car. AMD can significantly impact daily tasks that rely on it such as driving and reading.

1. Eat a Healthy Diet

Food plays an integral part in maintaining eye health. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, protein-rich meats and omega-3 fatty acids will help protect them against disease, while it is best to refrain from unhealthy habits like smoking that could increase risk for macular degeneration or other eye problems.

Macular degeneration, an eye condition which causes central vision loss, can make everyday tasks like reading and driving difficult or impossible. Macular degeneration attacks the macula, an area in the retina at the back of your eye that allows you to clearly see fine details, thread needles or read. While macular degeneration reduces straight ahead vision significantly, side vision usually remains intact – which means total blindness can still occur with macular degeneration.

Diet can help protect against macular degeneration; strive to meet your Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Doing this every day means eating from each food group.

Leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach and collards contain the antioxidant lutein and zeaxanthin that may reduce your risk for age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Other good sources include peas, turnip greens and broccoli; eggs also offer great sources of lutein and zeaxanthin while vitamin C, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids are all vital components to eye health.

As soon as you notice changes in your vision, contact an eye doctor immediately. Depending on your unique circumstances, they may recommend nutritional supplements, medications or laser surgery as possible solutions. Your eye doctor will use a grid and photograph your retina, in addition to using special dye to detect abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid that cause macular degeneration – treatments which could slow or even improve central vision loss in wet macular degeneration cases.

2. Exercise Regularly

Age related macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that makes it hard to see fine details clearly. It happens when the central part of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates – this area enables reading, driving a car, recognising faces and colors as well as other tasks requiring central vision such as reading books. Symptoms include blurriness or dark areas appearing at the center of your field of vision which makes it hard to focus on straight ahead activities like driving a car or working at computer as well as threading needles or reading books!

Dry macular degeneration (ARMD) is the most prevalent form of ARMD. In this form, central vision gradually worsens over time as parts of the macula thin out and tiny protein deposits (known as drusen) appear – eventually these deposits may lead to permanent vision loss. Wet AMD occurs less frequently but is far more serious; abnormal blood vessels may form beneath the retina that leak fluid and bleed into the macula, leading to rapid and severe vision loss.

Regular exercise has been found to significantly decrease the risk of eye diseases. Research indicates that regular physical activity helps decrease oxidative stress and inflammation levels while slowing or even stopping clouding processes from happening naturally in lenses.

Recent research showed that regular exercise could reduce your chance of age related macular degeneration by up to 70%. Scientists believe exercise helps slow the disease by slowing the overgrowth of blood vessels that can damage eyesight or lead to vision loss.

Diet and exercise are among the best ways to protect your eyes, helping reduce risk of eye health problems and preserve clear sight for life. Furthermore, regular eye exams every two years allow doctors to detect early symptoms of any potential eye problems before they become serious – so contact us today – we look forward to meeting you soon!

3. Get Regular Eye Exams

As it’s impossible for any doctor to detect all forms of inflammation without looking directly in the eyes, regular comprehensive eye exams are vitally important in more ways than one. Your eyes allow doctors to observe any small blood vessels or swelling that could indicate serious health conditions like high blood pressure, stroke, multiple sclerosis or diabetes – or early signs of macular degeneration that might otherwise go undetected.

Adults are advised to receive an eye exam once yearly or as recommended by their eye care specialist, or more frequently if necessary. Individuals with a family history of eye disease or diabetes should get at least an annual examination; those at greater risk should get checked more often by an eye care specialist.

At an eye exam, drops may be given to dilate the pupil so the eye care specialist can view the back of your eye. An ocular health assessment will include tests such as visual acuity and refraction tests that measure prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses as well as tonometry screening tests which measure pressure within your eyeballs.

Eye care specialists typically conduct an ocular health evaluation by looking for deposits under the retina known as drusen which are an early sign of macular degeneration. Although drusen alone don’t cause vision loss, when their size or number increases it increases chances that someone will progress into dry macular degeneration; wet form occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under retina and leak fluid or blood into macula.

eye care specialists now have access to new technology that makes monitoring macular degeneration and conditions like glaucoma much more effectively, using devices similar to what my husband owns that take digital pictures of the back of your eye. This enables them to detect changes more rapidly than with simple Amsler grids.

4. Wear Sunglasses

Macular Degeneration (AMD), is an eye disease characterized by the gradual breakdown of macular pigment cells located at the back of each eye, which leads to reduced central vision affecting reading, driving or seeing details clearly. Macular degeneration often affects both eyes, although its progress differs between them; additionally it is often marked by deposits under retina called “drusen”, abnormal blood vessels under one retina forming (known as wet macular degeneration) as well as deposits that form under retina (wet form macular degeneration).

Sunglasses provide protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays which can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration and photokeratitis. When selecting sunglasses make sure they are polarized to block both UVA and UVB rays.

UV rays can be dangerous as they damage the cornea, lens and retina of your eye, potentially leading to macular degeneration, cataracts and skin cancer of the eyelid or surrounding area. Prolonged exposure can even result in macular degeneration.

Preventing macular degeneration requires early detection and treatment, regular eye exams, healthy diet and nutrition are also key elements to good vision. Quigley Eye Specialists recommends that those age 60 or above receive a comprehensive eye exam annually to monitor for signs of early macular degeneration.

Regular eye exams are one of the best ways to combat eye conditions that threaten vision loss, like glaucoma and macular degeneration. We invite you to schedule an appointment with Quigley Eye Specialists near your location – over 50 nationwide offering services designed to improve vision. We accept most insurance plans including Medicare as well as flexible financing solutions tailored specifically to fit into any budget. Simply call or click a location below and set an appointment. We look forward to meeting you!