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Table of Contents

How Macular Degeneration Affects Vision and What You Can Do About It

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness in Americans age 65 and older, according to Prevent Blindness America.

The macula is the part of the retina we use for reading, driving, watching television, and fine work: in short, it is the region of maximum visual acuity. Some half-million new cases of AMD are diagnosed each year.

Vision loss in AMD is due to the irreversible death of photoreceptors and/or the invasion of leaky, unwanted blood vessels into the retina.

Vision loss usually occurs gradually and typically affects both eyes at different rates.

How do you know if you have AMD?

If straight lines look wavy, or if you notice shadowy areas or dark or empty spots in your central vision, you may be experiencing early signs of the disease. At advanced stages, even seeing the face of a loved one becomes impossible.

Seeing Is Believing

Adam Hahn is a painter in London, England, whose grandmother had AMD. Although she led a rich, active life, when she passed away, Adam realized he never actually knew what she saw as her condition worsened. He was determined to find out.

He interviewed people with AMD, asking them to describe how they saw themselves with their partial vision. He then painted their portraits accordingly.

The result is an astounding collection of wholly or partially blurred paintings, in blacks, whites, and grays, perhaps to indicate the deterioration of color vision that many people with AMD also experience.

For a look at some of these portraits, as well as an interview with Adam and some of those who participated in this groundbreaking project take a look at this You Tube video.

Preventing AMD

Here are three important steps you can take to guard against developing AMD.

1. Consume the right fats. The omega-3 essential fatty acid known as DHA, found in salmon, tuna (bluefin tuna has up to five times more DHA than other types of tuna), mackerel, sardines, shellfish, and herring, is intimately involved with eye health. Several epidemiologic studies have indicated that omega 3 oils may reduce the risk for AMD.

A study published in the August 2001 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology recommended avoiding highly processed snack foods and consuming two or more servings of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids per week to lower the risk of developing AMD. Nuts also provide healthy fats: eating one serving a day of any type of nut, according to AgingEye Times, reduces the risk of progression of AMD by 40%.

2. Supplement with lutein and zeaxanthin. The carotenes lutein and zeaxanthin are vital to vision because they actually form the macular pigment region in your eye. They have been shown to increase the size/thickness of this region when supplemented, offering substantial protection against vision loss and blindness.

In 2004 the North Chicago VA Medical Center announced that lutein has been shown to not only help prevent, but also to actually reverse, symptoms of AMD. According to the center, "The LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial) is the first trial to record actual improvement in several key visual functions among patients with AMD."

Foods that contain these nutrients include kale, spinach, collard greens, eggs, turnip greens, broccoli, zucchini, romaine lettuce, corn, and peas. A supplement of 20 mg of lutein and 6-10 mg of zeaxanthin per day has been proven to increase macular pigment health.

In addition to being antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin may help protect against photodamage of the retina by filtering out blue light, which can damage the retina over time. They may also protect the blood vessels that supply the macular region.

3. Quit smoking. Smoking is a powerful risk factor for loss of vision with AMD. In fact, one study showed that smoking more than doubles the risk of AMD, possibly by reducing serum antioxidant levels and changing blood flow to the eyes.

But it’s never too late to benefit from quitting: a 2010 UCLA study found that even after age 80, smoking continues to increase the risk for AMD; therefore, researchers concluded that quitting smoking even late in life may reduce your risk of developing AMD.

Eye Nutrition Fact: Lutein and Zeaxanthin for AMD

Lutein and Zeaxanthin play an important role in your vision health because they actually form the macular pigment region in your eye. Numerous studies have shown that Lutein and Zeaxanthin can help to prevent macular degeneration and even reverse the symptoms of it.

Ocu-Plus Formula contains Lutein, Zeaxanthin and 16 other nutrients that play an important role in your vision health.

Click here to learn more about the Ocu-Plus Formula:

Learn which eye vitamins naturally improve eye health. The Rebuild Your Vision Ocu-Plus Formula was designed to improve vision and eye health, and help people with Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Cataracts. Click Here To Learn More.

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