Can a Glass of Red Wine a Day Keep Macular Degeneration Away?

Can a glass of red wine a day keep age-related macular degeneration (AMD) away? It sure can, according to an article in Seaside Signal.

The article noted that the antioxidants that red wine contains have been shown to lessen the odds of getting cardiovascular disease, which ultimately reduces the odds of being diagnosed with AMD. This means that people who like to have a glass of red wine with their evening meals can do so knowing that they can potentially ward off the leading cause of vision loss.

The red wine tidbit was part of a larger article that, as part of AMD Awareness month in February, addressed ways that people can reduce their AMD risks. AMD adversely impacts the macula, which is the portion of the retina that facilitates central clarity and the ability to detect colors. People who get AMD suffer the gradual deterioration of their macula, which unfortunately leads to irreparable vision impairment. The condition is most common in people who are older than 55 years old, noted the article.

One of the risk factors — and it is an uncontrollable one — is age. In fact, up to 30% of people older than 75 years old come down with AMD. The article noted that studies have demonstrated that the retina, as it ages, gets fewer antioxidants that protect the macula. Women are more likely to get AMD than are males, according to the article. And Caucasians are more likely to be diagnosed with the eye disease than are people of other races. And one-fifth of AMD patients have a family history of the eye disease.

According to the article, people who smoke can harm their eyes since cigarettes adversely impact retina circulation, which can ultimately lead to the deterioration of the retina. So people who smoke are actually as much as three times more likely to come down with AMD than are those who have never used cigarettes.

According to the article, the American Optometric Association says that people who fall into any of the following groups should see their eye doctor as soon as possible to be tested for AMD:

– Aged 60 or older

– Hypertension or cardiovascular disease

– Cigarette use

– Family history of AMD

This article is brought to you by PreserveMacForte.com