(PreserveMacForte.com) The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that 10 million people in America are coping with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye ailment that happens to be the primary cause of vision impairment among people who are 65 years old and older, according to THV11.
The article took the form of an interview where THV11 talked to Dr. Lydia Lane, who works with the Little Rock Eye Clinic, about AMD.
According to the article, Dr. Lane explained that AMD is caused by the deterioration of the macula. She said that 99% of a people’s vision is accomplished through the macula, which is a small area in the retina. People whose macula is starting to deteriorate could experience symptoms such as distorted vision that renders it hard to read books, watch television or even recognize the faces of friends and loved ones.
Asked how the eye ailment is treated, Dr. Lane explained that there are two kinds of AMD. The two types are dry AMD, which is treated courtesy of vitamins that are designed to keep the ailment from progressing, and wet AMD, which needs to be worked on by a retina specialist who will use medication and perhaps even laser treatments to stop the disease from progressing. Other reports have indicated that wet AMD is the more serious of the two and that one-tenth of those with dry AMD end up getting wet AMD, which occurs when abnormal blood vessels form behind the eyes and leak blood and other liquid that damage the macula.
When asked how people can prevent AMD, the doctor noted that they must first understand what their risk factors. Risk factors include having a family history of AMD, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and older than 60, said the doctor, adding that people to whom these risk factors apply or who experience symptoms such as blurred vision should see their eye doctor for an eye exam.
Dr. Lane added in the article that people can adopt lifestyle changes to lessen their odds of getting AMD. For example, they can consume leafy green vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, kale, asparagus and broccoli; cease from smoking; keep their blood pressure under control; and maintain a healthy cholesterol reading.