(PreserveMacForte.com) In excess of 15 million people in Europe are living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and that number is on pace to double over the next 10 years, reported the Community Research and Development Information Service.
According to the article, research shows that certain nutrients can help people ward off AMD, which means that people need not succumb to the belief that bad eyesight is an unavoidable part of getting older.
Prof. John Nolan, affiliated with the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), and Prof. Stephen Beatty, affiliated with the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG), both based in Ireland, are widely regarded as the world’s most accomplished researchers in this area, noted the article. The article added that the two professors will soon begin an area of science research that has not been looked at before. This development comes on the heels of a landmark study conducted by the National Eye Institute, which weighed the effects of eye supplements over a 60-month period in 4,000+ AMD patients.
The article cited Prof. Nolan as saying that he was always certain that “these nutrients had” a critical part “to play for” people who had the eye ailment. He added that a number “of our published research studies have already” demonstrated that boosting macular pigment courtesy of supplements helps AMD patients and can enhance “their vision.”
According to the article, Prof. Nolan added that it’s almost important for people to eat more produce, both vegetables and fruits, in order to protect their eye health. He explained that produce carotenoids, such as zeaxanthin, lutein and meso-zeaxanthin, that help keep the eyes healthy.
In addition to eating the right things, there are other lifestyle practices that can help people to potentially ward off AMD. For example, regular exercise, avoiding obesity, keeping cholesterol level normal, steering clear of high blood pressure and avoiding smoking cigarettes are helpful. Going in for annual eye exams is also highly recommended, and people who have a family history of AMD should talk to their doctor about what to do since a family history of the eye disease increases the risk of being diagnosed.