How To Fight Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There are millions of Americans all over the country suffering from the effects of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). While treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration is limited, there are many different options for people to slow the progress of the degenerative eye disease.

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-Related Macular Degeneration is a serious eye disease that affects the retina, distorting and deteriorating your ability to see crisp, clear objects. For people over the age of 50, the arteries that run to the retina can harden, preventing blood from reaching the cells vital for your vision.

When the arteries simply harden and stop providing the retina with the blood it need to function, it is referred to as “dry” macular degeneration. For some people, the eye disease doesn’t stop there. The body can attempt to form new blood vessels to supply the retina with the blood it needs; unfortunately this tissue can damage the retina you can lose the majority of your vision.

If you live in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and would like to prevent the onset of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, the best thing you can do is schedule a consultation with an experienced optometrist or ophthalmologist.

In addition to scheduling your Age-Related Macular Degeneration consultation, there are a few different safety measures you can take during everyday life to help avoid developing ARMD:

• Stop Smoking – Perhaps the biggest step you can take, smoking not only puts you at risk for many other health problems, but smokers are four times more likely to develop Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Maintain a Healthy Diet – A diet rich in leafy, green foods can help prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration because the carotenoids within the vegetables decrease the risk of developing or advancing ARMD

• Eat More Fish – While this may coincide with the second suggestions, studies have shown that people who eat   more than two servings of fish every week are 45% less likely to develop ARMD than people who rarely eat fish

• Exercise Regularly – Maintaining a regular exercise program can help you keep your cardiovascular system healthy, making you less likely to develop the hard arteries that lead to ARMD

• Wear Sunglasses – Overexposure to the sun is directly linked to developing Age-Related Macular Degeneration, which is why is it important to wear sunglasses when going outside or participating in outdoor activities

If you’ve already taken some of these precautions, the best thing you can do now is to schedule regular eye exams.

If you live in Charlotte, North Carolina and would like to learn more about ARMD, please visit the website of Horizon Eye Care today.

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