Learning About Macular Degeneration

Maintaining your wellness profile is an important lifestyle goal, and knowledge is a powerful tool to help you in that endeavor. Your eyes are vulnerable to many different conditions as you age, so staying informed about your eyes and the conditions that may affect them is crucial.

• Did you know that Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over the age of 60? If you are dealing with AMD as part of your aging process, you are undoubtedly aware of its affect on your ability to see well, especially at night.
• Did you know that there are lifestyle choices that may help prevent macular degeneration or keep it from progressing? Even though there are no cures for it, there are lifestyle choices you can make that may help prevent AMD or slow its progression. If caught early, AMD is much easier to monitor and treat.

Here are eight healthy lifestyle tips that may help save your eyesight as well:

1. Get regular eye exams. This is the number one, most important change to make in your eye health as you age.
2. If you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, manage them with regular exercise and weight control.
3. If you are a smoker, quit. Smoking greatly increases your risk of developing AMD.
4. Always wear sunglasses when you are outdoors – even on cloudy days – and make sure they are designed to block damaging high energy visible “blue” light and UV rays that can damage your retina.
5. Take a daily nutritional supplement that includes a high dose combination of vitamin E, vitamin C, Zinc and beta carotene.
6. Eat fish or take a fish oil supplement daily.
7. Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates.
8. Eat dark, leafy green vegetables, such as raw spinach every day.

If it has been a while since your last eye exam and you would like to learn more about macular degeneration, call our office to schedule an appointment, today: In Reading (781) 942-9876; in Melrose (781) 662-2216.