Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Risk Factors and Prevention
Age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD. This is when the central region of your retina, the macula, suffers damage and impairs your vision.
Typically, macular degeneration is indicated by a loss or reduction in central vision. This often leads to people with it having clearer side or peripheral vision, as a result.
AMD is the term for the condition when the deterioration in the macula happens due to age-related factors, as is often the case for people with macular degeneration in their 6th decade of life and beyond.
Because this is a progressive eye condition that can lead to severe vision loss, it’s important to be proactive about decreasing the risk of AMD occurring, or halting it early once it has begun. Today, we’ll help you do that by going over the age-related macular degeneration risk factors and prevention options.
What can raise the odds of getting age-related macular degeneration?
While there is no definite way to prevent AMD, there are things that can be avoided, so as to decrease the chance of it occurring to you. Risk factors contributing to AMD development include:
- Age: The risk increases with age due to cellular deterioration.
- Family History: Having relatives with AMD raises the likelihood of developing it.
- Smoking: Increases risk due to oxidative stress on the body.
- Obesity: Shows a strong correlation with AMD.
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Presence of these conditions elevates the odds of developing AMD.
How can you prevent age-related macular degeneration?
While there are no treatments to cure AMD, there are a number of options available to stop the progression of the condition. Regular eye screenings are essential, as early detection enables timely preventive measures to mitigate vision loss.
At Universal Eye Clinic, we offer comprehensive assessments and screenings for various eye conditions, including AMD. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for evaluation and management of AMD or any other eye concerns.
Now, if you do want to lower the risk of developing AMD, try the following:
- Adopt a healthy diet. Try to get a lot of antioxidant-rich vegetables, in particular, as previous clinical trials have linked antioxidant-rich supplements containing vitamins and minerals with a marked reduction in the risk of dry AMD progressing into the worse wet form.
- Engage in regular exercise to maintain overall health. This has been associated with decreased AMD risk and progression.
- Quit smoking. Smokers face up to four times higher odds of developing AMD compared to non-smokers.
Get screened for AMD and other eye problems today
AMD poses a serious threat to vision if left untreated, but early detection through comprehensive eye screenings offers vital options for intervention.
Contact us to inquire or schedule an appointment for age-related macular degeneration screening or treatment. We will be happy to assess you and come up with a plan for addressing AMD if you do have it.
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