Prevention Of AMD
What you can do to prevent vision loss from Macular Degeneration
Several risk factors for AMD have been identified, some of which can be modified in order to lower the risk for severe visual loss from AMD.
Modifiable risk factors:
Risk Factors you can act upon through lifestyle choices which can do much to lower your risk.
- Regular screening:
If you are 50 years old or over, have your eyes screened regularly for macular degeneration. Know your level of risk for severe visual loss from AMD.
Retina-Labs provides easy access to an examination by medical specialists through telemedicine. Pictures of the inner eye are taken close to your home or community, and transmitted to medical specialists . The medical specialists can quickly see the disease and provide recommendations. - Watch for any symptom:
A) Visual loss: check regularly the vision in each eye by blocking the vision of the other eye with your hand. If there is any rapid (days, weeks, months) vision change, you need to seek rapid ophthalmologic examination.
B) Distorted vision: Regularly look at straight vertical lines (curtains, window frame, etc…) with one eye while blocking the vision of the other eye with your hand. If those lines appear distorted, you need to seek rapid ophthalmologic examination. - Stop smoking:
Cigarette smoking is the highest known risk factor associated with macular degeneration. The association of certain genes with smoking have been shown to be confer a significantly higher risk for AMD. - Eat well, control your weight, exercise:
Research has identified several lifestyle risk factors for the risk of developing AMD and disease severity.
Among these:
-A good diet with antioxidants (vegetables)
-Weight control (body mass index (BMI) under 25)
-Control of cholesterol
-Control of blood pressure
-Micronutrient supplementation in more advanced cases
Non-modifiable risk factors:
- Genetics*: Family history of AMD immediate family members (mother, father, brother, sister).
- Increasing age.
- Female sex.
- Caucasian (white) race.
* A genetic test is now available