Tips for Protecting Eye Health and Preventing Macular Degeneration

Posted by Cullen Evans on March 18th, 2019

Although many of us make significant life changes and implement new habits to improve our overall health and wellbeing, our vision - and so our eyes - is one part of the body which too many of us tend to overlook.

As we grow older, the overall health of our eyes becomes more and more apparent, especially in ages over 60 where the onset of macular degeneration (AMD) comes into play. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss of elderly people yet still there is no cure to this date. Over time, an individual with AMD may experience difficulties, reading, driving or recognise familiar faces.

Despite being irreversible, there are always steps we can take to ensure the positive health of our eyes and slow down the progression of AMD later in life.

1. Your Diet 

Diet is central to the positive health of not just our eyes but our body as a whole. Eating plenty of dark, leafy greens such as spinach and incorporating more fish into your diet is essential in maintaining healthy vision. Eating fruit and nuts daily is also beneficial.

2. Stop Smoking 

Smoking is a killer, there is an endless list of risks and conditions due to smoking and age-related macular degeneration is one of them. Smokers are four times as likely than non-smokers to suffer from AMD later on in their lives.

If you want to protect your vision, we advise cutting down on tobacco.

3. Exercise Regularly and Maintain a Healthy Weight

Similar to a strong diet, exercising regularly is critical to our overall health and wellbeing. Exercise has also been shown in studies in the British Journal of Ophthalmology to not just improve vision, but to also reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Simply taking a brisk 10-minute walk is great exercise and makes a huge difference to our overall health and wellbeing. 

4. Have Regular Eye Exams

Your eye doctor will always be able to provide you with the best advice into taking steps to improve your eye health. It is recommended to see your local optician once every two years up to the age of 60 and for those over 60, once a year.

Regular eye exams can help your doctor pick up on AMD early and before it becomes a problem for your eye sight.

5. Dietary Supplements for AMD 

If macular degeneration has already started to progress, there are dietary supplements such as MacuShield which have been shown to slow down the progression of AMD. Many of these supplements include anti-oxidants such as lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin which protect the macula from blue light damage and free radicals.

By following these tips, you’ll be confident you have taken the steps necessary to promote your overall eye health and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.