Step 2: Eat plenty of greens to prevent AMDĮating plenty of dark, leafy greens may help with macular degeneration prevention. Of that number, 17,900 are legally blind.Īnother study from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary showed that current and past smokers had a 1.9- and 1.7-fold greater risk, respectively, of AMD compared with non-smokers. In Great Britain, an estimated 53,900 people older than 69 have AMD attributed to smoking. Smokers are up to four times more likely than non-smokers to have macular degeneration, public health experts at the University of Manchester said in a British Medical Journal report. Smoking is a major risk factor for developing macular degeneration. Probably the number one way to prevent AMD is to stop smoking or not smoke in the first place. Wear sunglasses outdoors to block UV and blue light that may cause eye damage. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Limit your intake of refined carbohydrates ( high-glycemic index foods).

If you already have AMD, ask your doctor about one of the AREDS formulations or other supplements specially formulated for macular health, such as I-Caps AREDS 2 (Alcon), PreserVision AREDS 2 (Bausch + Lomb), Eyepex Macula (Eyepex Formulas) or MacularProtect Complete AREDS2 (ScienceBased Health).Įxercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight.

Take a daily multivitamin supplement (unless your doctor advises otherwise). Here are 11 steps you can take to prevent or slow the progression of macular degeneration, followed by a brief discussion of each step:Įat plenty of dark, leafy green vegetables, such as raw spinach. In time, a person with macular degeneration may find it difficult or impossible to read, drive or recognize familiar faces.

You should be especially diligent about taking steps to prevent macular degeneration if there is a history of AMD in your family, which has been shown to be a risk factor for the disease.ĪMD is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among elderly people, who slowly lose their central vision. Though currently there is no cure for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), it appears there are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of getting the disease and experiencing AMD-related vision loss.

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