5 Tips For Eye Health to avoid Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

More than 8 million Americans are facing a vision problem that can’t be corrected so easily: age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of blindness in people over age 60 and while the signs of AMD may not show up until late in life, much of the damage occurs decades earlier. While some people seem to develop the condition no matter what they do, there are a few lifestyle choices—such as quittingsmoking and wearing sunglasses—that may help to protect against the disease.

According to Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D. and advisor for EatingWell Magazine, research suggests that the following five tips for eye health can help to prevent the development, or delay the progression, of AMD.

1. Up Your Antioxidant Intake

Antioxidants that seem to be especially protective against AMD include vitamin C (in citrus fruits, kiwi and broccoli), vitamin E (in vegetable oils, nuts and avocados) and lutein and zeaxanthin—nutrients that abound in dark leafy greens, such as spinach, kale and collards.

2. Eat (Whole) Eggs

Many avoid eggs because of their cholesterol content. Unless your doctor advises otherwise, go ahead and enjoy eggs regularly. (Just don’t go crazy: the American Heart Association still advises limiting cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams [mg] daily, and one large egg yolk has about 213 mg.) Take a tip from Dr. Thomas Wilson and scramble your eggs with spinach for an even bigger nutrient boost.

To know more, you can read about the research led by Thomas Wilson, Ph.D., associate professor with the Center for Health and Disease Research at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

3. Help yourself to more "See" food

 A recent analysis of nine studies suggested that people who ate at least two servings of fatty fish (such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring or trout) per week were about one-third less likely to develop advanced AMD than those who didn’t.

4. Consider a Supplement

 Although it’s always best to get nutrients from food first, supplements are showing a lot of promise in combating AMD. If you have any AMD risk factors, talk with your eye-care professional about taking an “eye health formula” supplements.

5. Keep your Blood Pressure and your Weight in check

 People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop AMD, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, so losing extra pounds if you’re overweight or obese might also help.

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