Natural treatments for macular degeneration include eating a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and protecting your eyes from sunlight. Experimental drugs and laser treatments also show promise.

Macular degeneration is a disease that attacks the macula of your retina, creating blurry or darkened areas in your vision, making it hard for you to read, drive or perform other daily activities. It may even prevent some people from seeing at all!

Diet

Macular degeneration, a common eye disease, causes the retina at the back of your eye to progressively weaken over time, making fine details difficult to see clearly and leading to blurred or loss of central vision. While side and peripheral vision usually remains intact during macular degeneration’s progression. There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet; for those suffering with the latter condition abnormal blood vessels can form inside their retina and leak fluid and scar the macula more severely than its counterpart; it can result in significant vision loss within months or years of diagnosis.

Macular degeneration (AMD), also known as dry AMD, is the most frequent form and occurs naturally with age. While symptoms typically don’t arise until later on in its progression, annual exams with an eye doctor can detect AMD early and prevent further loss of vision. Signature Retina Consultants of Braidwood Illinois offers treatment solutions for mild to severe AMD cases.

Diets rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may help slow the progression of AMD, according to research. People who regularly eat foods containing these nutrients have lower risks for advanced macular degeneration than those who don’t – such as Vitamin C, E, beta-carotene and zinc as examples of such essential dietary components.

Smoking decreases blood supply to the eyes and increases macular degeneration risk; so, if you’re currently smoking, stop today to protect your vision!

Macular degeneration risks may also include diabetes, high blood pressure and age; if these apply to you, speak to an ophthalmologist about receiving regular screenings for macular degeneration.

If you suspect early signs of macular degeneration, consult with an ophthalmologist about the AREDS2 formula of eye vitamins and supplements that could slow its progress. As wet macular degeneration advances further, your physician may suggest stronger interventions such as laser surgery or photodynamic therapy; such procedures could help protect vision by shrinking abnormal blood vessels that lead to vision loss due to wet macular degeneration.

Exercise

Recent research indicates that diet and exercise combined can slow macular degeneration progression. A team of scientists from University of Virginia found that regular exercise helps decrease overgrowth of blood vessels in the eye – one major cause of vision loss due to macular degeneration; when these blood vessels grow larger they leak fluid which damages macula cells causing further visual loss.

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that gradually damages central vision, leaving blind spots or grayness at the center of your field of view. Affecting only retina – which lines the back of the eye – it doesn’t affect side (peripheral) vision but remains one of the primary causes of blindness among people over 50 years of age.

Millions of Americans currently suffer from macular degeneration. Although no cure exists, they can still enjoy most of the activities they once enjoyed without interruption or vision loss. If you experience changes to your vision it’s important to monitor it and seek medical advice if there are any noticeable variations; wet macular degeneration requires special medication as fluid may leak under your retina and damage macula and lead to rapid vision loss within short period.

Ophthalmologists offer various tests to examine your retina, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. These exams help your ophthalmologist identify early, intermediate or wet macular degeneration stages; additionally they may detect any fluid leaking out from under your retina.

Age, family history, race and smoking all increase your risk for macular degeneration, as do cardiovascular disease or diabetes history. If any of these risk factors apply to you, discuss with your ophthalmologist how often and which type of eye exams they recommend as soon as possible.

Smoking

Smoking is a significant risk factor for macular degeneration in Caucasians, especially among middle-aged smokers. Smoking increases your chances of macular degeneration by two to three times more compared to non-smokers; its symptoms are caused by the degeneration of light sensitive areas of retina called macula which lead to blurriness or blind spots which make reading, threading needles or driving more challenging; color perception may become altered and straight lines may even appear wavy; while peripheral vision remains undamaged; but smoking increases these chances significantly more.

There are two forms of macular degeneration; dry and wet. The former is more prevalent and characterized by yellow deposits under the retina called drusen which gradually damage central vision over time, while in wet forms blood vessels form beneath retina which leak blood and fluid into central vision, leading to rapid central vision loss.

Both forms of macular degeneration are related to age, diet, family history and smoking – having someone in your immediate family with the condition increases your odds. Furthermore, smokers are at a greater risk for other eye-related ailments like cataracts or uveitis that could threaten eye health.

Being diabetic has also been linked with macular degeneration. It is thought that higher sugar levels in the bloodstream contribute to its development.

There are a number of natural ways to help prevent and treat macular degeneration, including diet changes, vitamins and supplements, exercise and regular eye examinations. Routine eye exams can detect early stages of macular degeneration which will enable better long-term management of this condition.

Macular degeneration is best treated naturally through eating a diet rich in antioxidants such as fruits, vegetables and nuts, which provide these vital vitamins. Smoking should also be limited; secondhand smoke exposure must be limited; sunglasses that provide UV protection may also prove helpful in protecting eyes from UV rays; annual eye exams offer invaluable monitoring of vision changes as well as identification of any further treatment needed; taking these steps early can decrease macular degeneration progression as well as other serious eye conditions.

Alcohol

Alcohol is an organic compound produced through natural fermentation of sugars and found in various beverages. Alcohol acts as a depressant by slowing down the central nervous system, which in turn impacts perceptions, emotions, movement and vision of its users. Drinking excessively may impair someone’s thinking clearly or remember things properly, leading to impaired memory or even intoxication resulting in slurred speech, unsteady movements or in extreme cases loss of consciousness.

Unhealthy alcohol use can cause serious health complications and damage almost every organ in the body, and may lead to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms when abruptly stopped. Alcoholism is an acute, often chronic disorder which requires medical attention for treatment.

Individuals with drinking problems are defined as individuals whose alcohol use interferes with their health, family, work or social lives in any significant way. This may involve spending a great deal of time engaging in activities needed for alcohol acquisition, use or recovery as well as neglecting key personal, social or professional obligations due to excessive drinking.

Alcohol users should limit their alcohol intake to two or three days each week in order to safeguard against macular degeneration and other health problems, including wine’s antioxidant properties which may help ward off wet macular degeneration, while providing other health benefits like helping regulate sleep cycles and lower cancer risks. Research shows that certain varieties of wine contain these anti-oxidant benefits as well as melatonin which regulates sleeping cycles while reducing cancer risks.

Alcohol consumers should discuss a safe level of drinking with their doctors and consider joining a support group for increased knowledge on alcohol as well as emotional and social support. There are various medications available for treating alcoholism which help to decrease cravings while aiding recovery; additionally, patients can take supplements rich in vitamins A & C, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids & zinc to facilitate healing and increase chances of full recovery from an addiction to alcohol.