Macular degeneration is a medical condition which gradually destroys vision. It may take the form of dry or wet macular degeneration.

Macula macular degeneration affects the central part of your retina called macula and is responsible for central vision which allows you to read, drive, recognize colors and faces, work on computers and see fine detail. While it does not lead to blindness directly, macular degeneration makes these activities harder for you.

1. Exercise regularly

Macular degeneration may not produce symptoms in its early stages and is only detectable through dilated eye exams. As macular degeneration progresses into its middle stage, however, it can gradually lead to central vision loss. If one experiences straight lines appearing blurry in their center field of vision or blurriness of their center of field of vision they should immediately consult an ophthalmologist for evaluation.

At an eye exam, retina is examined. The macula, located in the central region of retina, collects detailed images that are transmitted directly to the brain for visual interpretation. When this area deteriorates due to macular degeneration, central vision deteriorates causing difficulties reading, driving and recognising faces; peripheral or side vision remains intact however.

There are two forms of macular degeneration; dry and wet. Eighty-five to ninety percent of cases fall under dry macular degeneration and begin when tiny deposits known as drusen appear under the retina, eventually growing larger and interfering with its functioning properly.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid or bleed into the macula, typically just one eye at a time; although, in extreme cases both eyes can experience this form. While dry forms do not lead to rapid vision loss as rapidly, wet forms of macular degeneration can progress quickly without warning, though people can reduce its progression through regular exercise, diet that includes plenty of green leafy vegetables and fruits, and not smoking cigarettes.

2. Take vitamin supplements

Macular degeneration affects the central part of your retina (the lining at the back of the eyeball) which enables you to see fine details clearly, making threading needles, driving safely, reading and recognising faces easier. Your peripheral vision (i.e. the parts that provide side/distance vision) however is unaffected by macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration comes in two forms, wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration is most prevalent, caused by gradual thinning of macular tissues over time. On the other hand, wet degeneration is far more serious: blood vessels beneath the retina leak blood and fluid, blurring central vision over time.

A recent study, conducted by the AREDS2 Research Group, indicated that taking high doses of antioxidant vitamins, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids could slow dry macular degeneration’s progression as well as lessen its likelihood of turning into wet macular degeneration, which tends to progress more quickly and severely than dry AMD.

The original AREDS study demonstrated that taking a supplement containing 500 mg of Vitamin C, 400 IU Vitamin E and 15 mg beta-carotene together with 80 mg zinc oxide reduced advanced macular degeneration rates significantly. By including additional antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin with this formula may even further slow its progress.

3. Avoid smoking

Smoking increases your risk for age-related macular degeneration and doubles the chances of wet macular degeneration, so it is crucial that you stop smoking by working with your GP to help you quit. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy weight by eating plenty of leafy green vegetables and fish, in combination with taking AREDS2 vitamin supplements can slow the progression of dry AMD while decreasing chances of wet AMD development.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye condition related to aging that gradually destroys central vision, such as driving or reading, is one of the leading causes of blindness among adults aged 50 or above. AMD affects the central part of retina called macula; early, intermediate, and late forms exist of AMD.

Early stage macular degeneration is marked by tiny protein deposits called drusen that form under the retina, visible only to certain people. Over time these clumps grow larger until they are visible to everyone’s eye. By late stage advanced macular degeneration becomes noticeable to everyone around them resulting in vision loss that often appears wavy or blurry; in extreme cases straight lines appear wavy or blurred altogether.

Wet macular degeneration (WMAD) is an aggressive form of AMD that occurs when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid or form under the macula, progressing rapidly over time without proper treatment. Without intervention, vision could deteriorate quickly within days without treatment; to ensure optimal care it’s important to consult a specialist offering state-of-the-art macular degeneration treatment and care services.

4. Eat a healthy diet

The macula is only a small part of our retinas (the backs of our eyes), yet it enables us to see fine details clearly and directly ahead. Thanks to macular degeneration, central or straight-ahead vision can decrease or become impaired; sometimes this results in blind spots being seen within your field of vision – not impacting peripheral or side vision at all; however it doesn’t lead to blindness and many people continue their daily lives with macular degeneration as they do so much of what they love doing!

Macular degeneration’s initial symptoms tend to be mild and slow-growing, as noted by eye doctors using an Amsler grid chart to monitor your eyes for any changes or distortion. Signs include distortion in straight lines, blurriness or haziness of objects and difficulty seeing faces.

As soon as you enter the intermediate stage of macular degeneration, you may notice that straight lines appear wavy or colors become difficult to differentiate. Your eye doctor may suggest performing an ocular angiogram test to check for abnormal blood vessels under your retina (wet AMD).

Eat healthily to slow the progression of macular degeneration. Foods rich in antioxidants like dark green leafy vegetables, fish and nuts provide essential protection for eyesight health; additionally lutein and zeaxanthin supplements may promote eye wellbeing as well.

5. Wear sunglasses

Your retina and lenses are highly vulnerable to UV rays from the sun, with prolonged exposure leading to retinal degeneration, cataract formation and other eye diseases. Sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays can help delay or prevent these visual impairments from developing further.

Macular degeneration affects central vision, used when directly looking at objects or reading, driving and recognising faces and facial expressions. Symptoms of macular degeneration may include having difficulty seeing straight lines and/or experiencing a small dark spot at the centre of vision; central vision loss does not hurt and does not progress quickly; though aging plays a part, heredity, smoking, high blood pressure and obesity may accelerate its occurrence. Furthermore, women and people of color are particularly prone to it.

Studies demonstrate the ability of vitamins C and E to slow macular degeneration progression. Consume foods rich in these nutrients like nuts, seeds and leafy vegetables as well as taking vitamin supplements for added vitamins. Zinc is another nutrient which has been shown to protect against macular degeneration; you can get it by eating meat liver eggs seafood as well as taking zinc supplements – eating an almond every day will give you half your daily amount.

6. See your eye doctor regularly

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that slowly destroys sharp central vision needed for everyday tasks such as driving or reading, impacting millions worldwide. While its progression can be slow, typically diagnosed through routine eye exams. There are three stages of macular degeneration with each stage bringing different degrees of vision loss.

Macular degeneration begins as a slow loss of central vision through either thinning of the macula or abnormal yellow deposits, known as drusen, under the retina. At first this affects only one eye but may eventually affect both.

As the disease advances, deterioration accelerates rapidly and macula begins to break down further, which results in blurry or hazy straight ahead vision near the center of one’s visual field. If left untreated, this progressive loss may eventually result in complete loss of both color and straight ahead vision.

Few cases of dry macular degeneration will progress into more serious wet forms of macular degeneration, where abnormal blood vessels under the retina begin to leak or grow, distorting or blurring central vision and leading to distortion or blurriness of central vision. Early treatment for wet macular degeneration could significantly lessen central vision loss.