Learning About Macular Degeneration
- Posted on: Aug 15 2016
Staying informed about your eyes and the conditions that may affect them is crucial, especially as you age. Staying healthy is an important lifestyle goal, and knowledge is a powerful too. Your eyes are vulnerable to many different conditions, and one of them is Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in adults over the age of 60. If you are dealing with AMD, you are aware of how it affects your ability to see well, especially at night.
You may not be aware that there are lifestyle choices that may help prevent macular degeneration or keep it from progressing. Even though there are no cures for it, If caught early, AMD is much easier to monitor and treat.
Here are a few lifestyle tips that not only keep you healthy but may also help preserve your eyesight:
- Always wear sunglasses when you are outdoors – even on cloudy days – and make sure they are designed to block damaging high energy “blue” light and UV rays that can severely damage your retina.
- If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, work on their management with regular exercise and diet.
- If you are a smoker, quit. Smoking greatly increases your risk of developing AMD.
- Get regular eye exams. This is one of the most important steps to take to safeguard your eye health.
- Take a daily nutritional supplement that includes a high dose combination of vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc and beta carotene.
- Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates.
- Eat fish or take a fish oil supplement daily.
- Eat dark, leafy green vegetables, such as raw spinach every day.
To our Chester friends: If it’s been too long since your last eye exam and you would like to discuss AMD with Dr. Silverstein, call our office to schedule an appointment, today: 908.879.7297.
Posted in: Macular Degeneration
