(www.PreserveMacForte.com) One million Canadians have age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that happens to be the leading cause of vision loss among people 65 years old and above in Canada and in many other parts of the world, reported The Welland Tribune recently.
According to the article, projects call for the damage stemming from AMD to triple in the next quarter-century as the population in Canada continues to get older. While there is no cure for the eye condition, people who are diagnosed early can substantially lessen their chances of suffering vision impairment.
According to the article, better treatment possibilities and new diagnostic tests can help to counteract the disappointing statistics that suggest that the number of Canadians with AMD could climb dramatically in 25 years. The article noted that early detection courtesy of regular eye exams is the best way to keep age-related macular degeneration in check.
While there are a number of AMD treatments that can help to slow down the progression of the disease, there are also a number of treatments that could in the relatively near future offer even more help to patients. The article noted that a couple of new treatments have moved on to Stage 3 trials south of the Canadian order.
Although the number of AMD cases is on pace to triple in the next quarter-century, the article pointed out that the capacity to diagnose and treat the ailment will also get better over that time period.
According to various reports, people can do quite a bit to reduce their odds of getting AMD. Eating lots of leafy green vegetables and consuming seafood with omega-3 fatty acids will help as will avoiding smoking cigarettes and high blood pressure. Adopting the habit of regular exercise and keeping a healthy weight is also important. And it is important that people see their eye care specialist regularly for eye exams that can detect early signs of AMD, which will substantially reduce the likelihood of vision impairment. People with a family history of AMD should consult their eye doctor to come up with a more stringent AMD-prevention strategy since the odds of getting AMD is higher if people have family members with the condition.
Reference: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2013/02/15/macular-degeneration-damage-to-triple