Age Related Macular Degeneration And Cataracts

Macular Degeneration

I believe that the majority of us would value our eyesight and would not intend to lose it through aging.  I have talked lately to a neighbor who has problems with cataracts. It is hard for her to read and she is looking forward to her operation.

Cataracts are quite usual, affecting about sixty percent of folks over the age of 60, and over 1.5 million cataract surgical treatments are performed in the U.S. annually. Most common complaints include difficulty driving at night, reading, participating in sports such as golfing, or traveling to unfamiliar areas; these are all activities for which clear vision is essential. For a local optometrist click here

I had an aunt whose hobby was embroidery and she lost the ability to discern the colors of the threads when she suffered from cataracts. After her surgery, she was surprised at the distinction in her eyesight. My father also suffered from cataracts. He was a professional photographer and film-maker and even though he had retired, it made life difficult until he had the operation.

A few years ago, another elderly neighbor began using a walking stick because she was going blind as a result of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the U.S., AMD is the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 60.

Being an avid reader and traveler myself, I would certainly hate the idea of having bad eyesight and even worse still, blindness. Grandparents with impaired eyesight would be impacted on their ability to interact with their grandchildren.

When in brilliant sunlight, an easy preventative remedy is to wear sunglasses. And by combining a healthy diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, plus supplements may provide further fortification.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported in its November 9, 1994 issue, states that individuals who have the highest intake of beta-carotene have a 43% lower risk of developing macular degeneration than those with the lowest levels. Other epidemiological studies have shown that people with macular degeneration also had low levels of zinc, selenium, vitamin C, carotonoids, and vitamin E when compared to control groups that did not have AMD.

Medical professional Ray Fiber claims “Clinical research studies have recognized particular nutrients that seem useful in age-related macular degeneration. Combined carotenoids have actually been found to enhance the pigment thickness in the macula. Actually, dieting supplemented with lutein revealed a FIFTY Percent increase in focus of this nutrient within the macula of the eye. This provides the macula an improved defense of high energy light and damage from free radicals. It acts like an interior pair of sun glasses, because lutein offers this area a yellow-brown colour that filters the light prior to it reaching the retina.

 

Port Charlotte Optometrist, Maggiore Family Eye Care is now offering macula risk testing that can detect age-related macular degeneration.

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