Macular degeneration is the degeneration of the central retinal region of your eye, impairing central vision and making reading, driving or performing other tasks that require straight ahead vision difficult. It may cause blurry central vision as well as difficulty with reading books or driving vehicles.

Advanced macular degeneration cannot be reversed, but eating healthily, exercising regularly and attending regular eye exams may slow its progress. Certain vitamins and supplements may also prove helpful.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Macular degeneration affects the central portion of your retina. This area allows you to read, drive a car and perform other activities requiring detailed visual information. Symptoms of macula failure may include blurred vision and dark areas in the center of your field of view. Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss among people aged 60 or over; two forms exist: wet and dry macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration, the more prevalent form, involves thinning macular tissues and the growth of yellow deposits called drusen on the retina. Wet macular degeneration, less frequently encountered, involves blood vessel leakage resulting in rapid vision decline.

Macular degeneration can be avoided through diet. Consume an array of vegetables and fruits of various colors as part of a nutritious meal to get adequate proteins, vitamins and minerals in your diet. Be sure to consume fish (particularly salmon and trout ) to get enough omega-3 fatty acids. Leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach contain high concentrations of lutein that has been shown to reduce risk factors associated with wet macular degeneration; try including other sources like arugula, romaine lettuce and turnip greens into your meal as well.

Diet is the cornerstone of eye disease prevention, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. You can further lower your risk by not smoking, getting regular comprehensive eye exams from trained ophthalmologists, and wearing sunglasses that block 99-100% UVA/UVB rays. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s recommendations for adults age 40+: have their baseline comprehensive eye exam and then every one-two years thereafter – regardless if there are signs or symptoms indicating potential eye issues arising.

Exercise Regularly

Macular degeneration is an eye disease in which you gradually lose central vision, typically as the result of retinal tissue becoming damaged and thus impairing its ability to support macula function – an area inside your retina which helps fine details be seen clearly while performing tasks such as reading, driving, recognizing colors or faces and engaging in activities like these. While it does affect macula function it does not lead to total blindness as side-vision (peripheral vision) remains normal and peripheral vision still functions normally in an affected eye.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties, dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration is characterized by blurry central vision and yellow deposits known as drusen underneath the retina; their number can indicate how advanced your condition may be. Wet macular degeneration, on the other hand, involves abnormal blood vessels growing underneath the retina that leak blood or fluid into the macula; this may result in rapid loss of straight-ahead vision.

Good news is there are ways you can reduce your risk of macular degeneration. By eating healthily, exercising regularly, and refraining from smoking, you can increase your odds of maintaining clear vision throughout life.

Avoid Smoking

Age is the primary risk factor for AMD, but lifestyle choices can also have an effect. Smoking increases one’s chances of contracting AMD significantly and studies have demonstrated that quitting smoking can slow progression of this condition and improve vision. Other modifiable risk factors may include obesity, low intake of antioxidant-rich foods in diet and family history of the condition.

Macular degeneration is a non-painful eye disease that gradually compromises sharp central vision. It’s caused by damage to the macula, an area in the retina of our eyes responsible for providing us with detailed images such as reading and driving, which allows us to clearly view fine details. One form of this disease known as dry macular degeneration often manifests with blurry central vision as well as yellow deposits under the retina called drusen; your eye care professional should detect them during an in-depth dilated exam.

Wet macular degeneration (ARMD) is less common but more severe, caused by abnormal blood vessels forming underneath the retina and macula and leaking blood and fluid into them. It often results in rapid vision loss with straight lines appearing wavy or an appearance of dark spots at the center of vision; early symptoms include straight lines becoming wavy or dark spots appearing centrally.

There are currently no treatments available for wet macular degeneration; however, various home and natural remedies may help lower its risk. These include eating a well-balanced, vitamin-rich diet; taking specific vitamins and nutritional supplements; quitting smoking; protecting eyes from UV radiation and getting regular eye exams.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that gradually deteriorates central vision. It affects the macula, the area located at the back of your eye that allows you to see fine details straight ahead, such as when driving and reading. While macular degeneration limits some activities like driving and reading, its cause is still unknown although age, family history, smoking are risk factors; as are cataracts.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties, dry and wet. In the former case, tissue thin-out in the macula can lead to blurry central vision; eventually yellow deposits called drusen develop under the retina and cause vision loss; however their number and size can indicate your risk for advanced macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration is less frequently experienced but occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to form underneath the retina in the macula and leak and bleed, disrupting straight lines in your vision and producing distortion or missing areas of clarity. If this is happening to you, immediately consult an Eye Care Professional as these symptoms could indicate wet macular degeneration.

Studies suggest that eating foods rich in nutrients may slow the progression of macular degeneration. Try to include plenty of green leafy vegetables, salmon or other oily fish, eggs, beans and nuts into your daily diet as well as protecting yourself from excessive sun exposure with protective clothing or wearing a visored hat when outdoors. Regular physical activity may help lower risk factors associated with macular degeneration as well as chronic diseases – aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily!

Get Regular Eye Exams

Routine eye exams can help protect you against eye diseases like macular degeneration that often don’t show early symptoms. Your eye doctor will conduct a comprehensive eye exam which involves dilation drops placed into each eye and shining a light into the retina to assess its health and vision – this process is quick, painless and could save your vision by catching diseases in their early stages.

Eye exams can also detect a number of health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and signs of brain tumors that could impede vision and require treatment or preventive measures for. This is crucial since many of these conditions are manageable with proper care.

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that causes central vision to gradually deteriorate by leading to cell death in the macula. There are two forms of macular degeneration; dry and wet. With dry macular degeneration, symptoms usually develop gradually without noticeable noticeable symptoms until its advanced stage. At this stage, symptoms usually involve distortion of straight lines and blurry central vision. Wet macular degeneration is less prevalent but more quickly progressive; its hallmark characteristic being yellow deposits under the retina called “drusen.” OCT angiography or fundus fluorescein angiography is a non-invasive diagnostic test used to detect wet macular degeneration, taking photographs of the back of your eye to detect bleeding and leakage from new blood vessels that characterize wet macular degeneration.

Plan to schedule an annual eye exam by the age recommended or sooner if you have risk factors for macular degeneration. Please bring glasses or contacts, medications list and medical history copy with you for the exam.