Planning a strategy Against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

 The retina is the area of the eye that is light sensitive. It has been compared to the lens of a camera. The macula is the tiny area of the retina that is the most sensitive to light. Using the same comparison to a camera, you could say the macula is the shutter. It is responsible for you being able to see objects clearly and distinctly. Age-related macular degeneration affects, as you would suppose, the macula.

Just as other diseases such as high blood pressure, or diabetes are known to target certain ethnic groups, this disease (AMD) accounts for 54% of all blindness in white Americans over the age of 40. That is a staggering statistic! But thankfully it is one that can be lowered.

Research has learned the underlying causes of AMD as we will see later, and what can be done to prevent it to a large degree. One of the most comprehensive studies done was the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) sponsored by the National Institute of Health. It took over eight years to complete.
More than 3600 patients were followed during that time.There was conclusive evidence that supplimenting the diet with vitamins can reduce the risk of growth in moderate and advanced cases of AMD.

What are the vitamins that have been shown most effective?
Beta - carotene (15mg) Vitamin C (500mg) Vitamin E (400IU) and zinc (50mg).

What are some of the underlying factors that raise the risk of AMD?
Obesity, farsightedness, being of Caucasian race, using thyroid hormones, as well as the use of antacids.

A healthy diet started early in life, adequate exercise, and eye protection from harmful UVB rays of the sun and supplimenting that diet with the right vitamins are all ways to prevent damage to the light sensitive retina and macula. Damage that later in life can lead to AMD.

As my mother says: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure- it's a lot easier to keep a problem from happening than it is to fix it once it is there. Talk with your family Optometrist or Nutritionist about being eye smart. Can you think of a reason not to take measures now to protect you and your family's eyes from a disease that can and will eventually rob you of an independant lifestyle?