Three Things That May Slow Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Although macular degeneration is a progressive disease with no cure, there are many approaches to treatment that have been shown to slow the disease. Many of these treatments are related to changes in lifestyle. The following are three areas that may help slow this eye disease.
Taking vitamins and minerals
Your diet can be enormously important in slowing this disease. The key is foods with anti-oxidants. These chemicals remove elements that damage cells and work to help prevent deterioration of macular cells. The foods you should concentrate on are green vegetables and carrots. You should also be eating fish in your diet. Fish contains Omega-3 fatty acids that help to maintain strong blood vessels in the eyes. You can also get some of these fatty acids from nuts and seeds. In addition to diet, there are also vitamin supplements that have been formulated for eye health. However, always speak to your primary care physician before taking vitamin supplements. You can talk to Macuhealth for more information. Depending upon your health, it may be better to get your eye nutrients from food.
Protecting your eyes from sunlight
In general, the ultraviolet light from the sun can cause many problems, but for those who have macular degeneration, sunlight can be extra hazardous. Just as UV light can be hazardous to your skin, it can also contribute to the degeneration of macular cells. The obvious way to protect yourself from this is to always use sunglasses when outside. Blue light may also be a problem. Blue light is in the visible light spectrum, and it is believed to be a contributing factor in the degeneration of the macula. You may want to consider sunglasses that are specifically designed for blue light filtering because they may offer extra protection for your eyes.
Controlling your blood pressure
As you age, sometimes blood vessels nears the macula can become weak, and elevated blood pressure can cause them to erupt. If you are overweight, now is the time to shed those extra pounds. This will help keep your blood pressure under control. In addition, make daily exercise a part of your life. This will help keep your weight down and improve circulation throughout your body, but it will be particularly beneficial in bringing nutrients and oxygen to the macular cells.
Often, the best approach to treating age-related macular degeneration is a comprehensive one. Use a full range of treatments for best results. As always, you should consult with both your primary care physician and your ophthalmologist to find what is best for you.