Friday, March 7, 2014

Reduce Your Risk of Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration (MD) is a term used to describe many conditions which affect central vision. Your central vision is processed by the macula, which is located in the center of your retina. MD occurs when the cells of the macula break down and start to function less effectively, usually as a result of age. This causes loss of vision in the center of the visual field.


While peripheral vision remains, loss of central vision can make it difficult or impossible to do things like read or recognize faces.

Possible ways to reduce your risk of Macular Degeneration:

Don’t Smoke If you smoke, stopping can only help reduce your risk of MD. Many studies suggest that smokers are more likely to suffer from MD and other eye-related problems.

Stay Healthy Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is important for your overall health as well as your eye health.
·         Keep a healthy diet, including plenty of dark, leafy greens and other vegetables.
·         Exercise regularly
·         Maintain a healthy weight
Your body relies on many types of tissues and organs functioning properly, including the retina, to allow for good vision. Staying healthy can help every part of your body, including the macula.

Take Vitamins Ask your doctor if nutritional supplements may be a good idea for your eye health. It can be difficult to obtain all the nutrients you need from diet alone, and there are vitamins available that are specifically designed to help maintain healthy eyes.

Wear Sunglasses While there isn’t necessarily a link between UV exposure and MD, wearing sunglasses helps keep your eyes healthy and can prevent other eye problems. Maintaining healthy eyes is a good starting point for a healthier retina.

Have Regular Eye Exams The best thing you can do to reduce your risk of the vision loss associated with MD is see your ophthalmologist regularly for eye exams. Regular exams can help your doctor detect MD and monitor it so you can receive proper treatment, if appropriate.