Age related macular degeneration is a devastating eye disease that causes blurry central vision. This condition occurs when light-sensitive cells in the retina die, leading to severe vision loss among adults over 50.

Researchers have discovered that certain antioxidant vitamins, such as B6, B12 and folic acid may help prevent AMD progression. But always consult your physician prior to taking supplements.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Macular degeneration is one of the primary causes of blindness among people aged 60 or over, as it results from retinal tissue deterioration that leads to blurry or reduced vision in your direct line of sight. While macular degeneration won’t make you blind immediately, it can significantly hinder daily tasks like driving and reading. Macular degeneration affects your macula; an area in central retina where light-sensitive cells send visual signals directly into your brain resulting in blurry or distorted central vision; difficulty recognising faces; and trouble with low light conditions.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties, dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. The latter form is caused by abnormal blood vessels leaking fluid or blood under the retina and damaging retinal cells, leading to sudden central vision loss that isn’t as severe.

Age may be the primary risk factor for macular degeneration, but you can lower your chances by eating healthily and taking antioxidant-rich vitamin supplements such as C and E vitamins. Exercise routine and getting plenty of rest – all factors which reduce high blood pressure, obesity and cardiovascular issues which could contribute to eye problems in later life.

Ophthalmologists often believe in taking proactive measures, so they encourage annual eye exams as the best way to prevent macular degeneration and other eye diseases such as cataracts. Regular examinations may identify early signs of degradation while providing important health data about you including potential cataracts issues.

2. Avoid Smoking

Macular Degeneration can occur for various reasons, but smoking is the leading preventable cause. People who smoke double their risk of wet macular degeneration – in which drusen accumulate and macula degenerates – which results in blurred vision, distorted images and missing or dark spots in the center of field of vision resulting from this degenerative process. Caucasians are most at risk; however it affects people from all backgrounds; cardiovascular disease increases this risk further while emergency workers who frequently work shifts may increase their chances as stressors add stress while potentially unhealthily coping mechanisms or convenience diets are put to work against their vision health resulting in even further degeneration of AMD.

Budacz emphasizes the value of early detection to stave off macular degeneration. They recommend annual eye exams as the most efficient means of doing this and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids to decrease inflammation from lipid peroxidation in the eyes and taking antioxidant vitamins C and E for increased protection against macular degeneration. They further advise avoiding ultraviolet (UV) light which can damage retinas.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

Food choices have a profound effect on the health of your eyes. A diet rich in eye-healthy nutrients may help protect against age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and other vision disorders.

Diets low in fat, protein and carbohydrates may reduce your risk for macular degeneration. By including fruits and vegetables such as leafy greens, squash and carrots in your diet regularly, they will provide essential vitamins and minerals for eye health – including beta-carotene which the body converts into Vitamin A which can improve vision while slowing progression of macular degeneration. Other essential eye nutrients are Vitamin E, Selenium and Zinc.

Ophthalmologists typically agree that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, which includes eating healthily. Along with cutting back on smoking and exercising regularly, the best way to combat macular degeneration is consuming a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive condition whereby the central part of the retina, known as the macula, is damaged or destroyed, leading to blurred or reduced central vision which makes reading or driving difficult. Although AMD doesn’t lead to total blindness, it does interfere with daily tasks and must be managed accordingly.

Although no cure exists for wet macular degeneration, treatments exist to slow its progress. These include laser therapy for freezing off abnormal blood vessels in the eye and anti-angiogenesis drugs that inhibit VEGF production which stimulates new blood vessel formation leading to wet macular degeneration.

4. Exercise Regularly

Age-related macular degeneration, commonly referred to as AMD, affects the central part of the retina (a thin layer at the back of your eye that senses light) and causes blurry vision. Though not complete blindness, AMD makes it more difficult for individuals to see fine details while reading or driving a car; recognising faces or distinguishing colors becomes harder as well. Although age is the leading risk factor for macular degeneration development; obesity, smoking and high blood pressure may all play a part.

Dry macular degeneration accounts for 85-95% of cases; during which, the macula gradually deteriorates and yellowish deposits called drusen form on its surface. Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid and blood into the macula, creating blurry or distorted vision and blind spots. While nothing can reverse wet macular degeneration’s effects directly, doctors can reduce its progression with cold lasers that freeze abnormal blood vessels or injection of drugs that inhibit an inhibitor protein called vascular endothelial growth factor.

Ophthalmologists often believe that prevention is better than cure, and recommend that those over 50 schedule regular appointments with their ophthalmologist to check for signs of macular degeneration. A dilated exam involves dropping drops to widen pupil and look for signs such as drusen, abnormal new blood vessels or any changes to retina. Another simple test used by opthalmologists to screen for signs is called fluorescein angiography; they inject dye into vein and use special cameras to scan it across retina.

5. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Diets that include plenty of fruits and vegetables may help protect against age-related macular degeneration. Carrots contain beta-carotene and the antioxidant lutein, both known to promote eye health. Lutein may help increase pigment density in your macula to protect it from damage; additionally, eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids could lower your risk for macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness among people aged 60 or above, impacting the central part of your retina known as the macula and leading to blurred or distorted vision, interfering with daily activities like reading and driving as well as leading to serious vision loss; although its progression tends to be gradual but may worsen over time.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties – dry and wet. Dry forms make up roughly 85% of cases, when light-sensitive cells in the macula thin out and die over time, leading to an overall decrease in central vision. Wet macular degeneration occurs less commonly but is potentially more severe as abnormal blood vessels grow beneath it and leak fluid or blood into your eye causing leakage of fluid into your eye, often more quickly than its dry counterpart.

Though no cure exists for wet AMD, treatments may help slow or stop its progression. Cold laser therapy to freeze new blood vessel growth as well as injectable drugs that inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Many ophthalmologists advocate an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” approach when it comes to treating this disease by scheduling regular eye exams and taking preventive steps like laser therapy or preventative injections may help.