Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in older adults, affecting nearly one in 10 Americans aged 50 and older. Although AMD can’t be cured, healthy habits, like eating a balanced and nutritious diet, may help slow disease progression and keep your eyes healthy.
February is AMD Awareness Month — the perfect time to assess your risk and consider steps you can take to help protect your vision. At Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, and Palmdale, California, Mary Demirjian, OD, and our team specialize in diagnosing and treating patients with AMD. Here’s how the right nutrients can help support your vision.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease that affects the macula, a part of the retina located at the back of the eye, which plays a crucial role in central vision and color perception. There are two types of AMD:
This type affects about four in five people (80%) with AMD. It damages the light-sensitive cells in the macula, resulting in slow but gradual central vision loss. Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes dry AMD, but genetics and environmental factors may play a role.
This type is less common but more severe than dry AMD. It happens when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and leak. Over time, this damages the macula and can lead to faster, more significant vision loss compared to dry AMD.
Many people associate good nutrition with losing weight or lowering the risk of chronic medical issues, such as heart disease and diabetes. However, it can also help protect your eyes.
That’s because when you eat foods that contain vitamins, minerals, and other key nutrients, they help support eye health by reducing oxidative stress and age-related changes, such as weakened blood vessels, which can directly affect the eyes.
Eating well doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll never experience vision problems, but it can reduce your risk and help keep your eyesight sharp.
Research is ongoing, but a growing body of research suggests certain nutrients may help slow AMD progression and preserve your central vision. These nutrients include:
The best way to access these nutrients is by eating a balanced diet. Whenever possible, we recommend consuming meals that feature colorful fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are good sources of omega-3s and can be eaten in moderation.
Diet alone isn’t always enough to prevent AMD progression. If we determine that you have AMD in one or both eyes, we may recommend a special combination of dietary supplements, known as AREDS2, to help slow vision loss.
AREDS2 can’t prevent AMD from developing, but if the disease is in the intermediate stage, the supplements may help reduce the risk of progression to late-stage AMD (loss of central vision). AREDS2 contains vitamins C and E, lutein, zinc, copper, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin.
Combined, these nutrients can work together to slow vision loss.
After reviewing your health history, asking about your symptoms, and completing a dilated eye exam, we can determine if this approach is right for you.
If you’re middle-aged and it’s been a while since your last eye exam, a routine check-up can provide peace of mind and allow us to assess your risk for AMD. Schedule an appointment at Wide Eye Optometry in Encino, Santa Clarita, or Palmdale, California, today.