Did you know that 3 out of 4 people you encounter will not know of an eye disease that causes blindness and they may actually have it themselves? Are you one of them?
The most commonly heard eye disorders include things like cataracts, retinal disorders, glaucoma, and even pink eye. These are common words that many of us have heard of and we probably know someone who suffers from one of these disorders..
Cataracts are clouded lenses, glaucoma is damage to the nerve from too much pressure, however, the one disease that causes the most individuals to go blind is something called age related macular degeneration.
Age related macular degeneration, or AMD, affects 10 to 15 million Americans and over one million Americans have been declared legally blind from this incurable eye disease.
It is a progressive disease and worsens over time. There are two forms of AMD: 1. Wet Form; and 2. Dry Form. About 10% of cases per year are diagnosed as the wet form and about 90% of cases each year are diagnosed as the dry form.
The wet form is caused by new blood vessels forming in the retina. The dry form is caused by the breakdown of light sensitive cells in the macula. The macula is a tiny spot in the back of the retina that is responsible for central vision. This is why people suffering from age related macular degeneration have central vision distortion or blurriness. It can lead to difficulty driving a car, trouble reading, and even difficulty recognizing faces.
The only treatment for the wet form is to receive injections into the eye, which may slow down the development of new blood vessels. Most eye doctors would tell you that there is no way to stop, reverse, or cure dry macular degeneration. They do , however, recommend that you have a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and specific antioxidants that have shown promise in eye disease studies to help slow the progression of AMD.
Most eye care specialists also recommend that you take an eye vitamin supplement that is rich in vitamin c, beta-carotene, vitamin e, zinc, copper, lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, and zeaxanthin.
These show promise in AREDS, AREDS 2, and other studies to help fight macular degeneration.
Here is what you can do to help protect your vision from age related macular degeneration:
1. Get regular eye exams
2. Find out if family members suffer from this disease, because family history increases your risk
3. Quit smoking if you smoke: smoking increases risk for AMD
4. Eat a healthy diet rich in green, leafy vegetables
5. Exercise
6. Take a daily vitamin supplement like Preserve Mac Forte to help protect your vision
Watch this eye disease video on YouTube!