Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Your Diet

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects the central part of your vision. It causes changes in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp vision. When not detected and treated early, AMD can cause significant vision loss. As it progresses, it can cause blind spots in your field of vision, making it difficult to do daily tasks like reading or driving.

Research shows that diet may play a role in the risk and progression of AMD. Learn more from your local optometrist.

How Diet Can Affect Age-related Macular Degeneration

Your diet can significantly impact your eye health and overall well-being. Eating well-balanced meals can help reduce your risk of developing AMD. Studies found that specific vitamins and minerals may help protect your eyes against this condition and slow its progression.

Along with proper nutrition, regular eye exams are essential to AMD management. Routinely seeing an eye care specialist can help its early detection and treatment. You can find a local eye doctor by looking up, “optometrist near me” online. It also helps to ask your family and friends for recommendations.

Nutrients for Eye Health

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is necessary for the production of rhodopsin. It is a photopigment in the retina’s rod cells and helps you see better in the dark. If you are vitamin A deficient, you might experience night blindness. Liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and kale are sources of vitamin A.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

There is evidence that omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the risk of AMD. You’ll find this nutrient in salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin can help protect your eyes against UV damage. Dark leafy greens, tangerines, oranges, persimmon and eggs contain these carotenoids.

Zinc & Copper

Zinc and copper are also essential for good eye health. You will find zinc in pork, chicken, liver, eggs, wheat germ and fortified breakfast cereals. Meanwhile, seafood, cacao beans, dried fruit, nuts and whole grains are sources of copper.

Eating nutrient-dense foods is vital to maintaining good eye health and slowing the progression of AMD. If you’re looking for an “eye doctor near me” to help with your vision and eye care needs, you can rely on Six One Six Vision Center. Call us at (208) 514-1858 or schedule online on our website anytime.

COVID-19

To our Six One Six Vision Center Families,

Our office is fully open to serve your eye care needs. We cannot wait to see you in our office again! With the health and safety of our team and patients at the forefront of our minds, the following changes have taken place while we all do our part to fight this pandemic:

We ask that if you are experiencing a fever, shortness of breathe, or a cough that you reschedule your visit at this time.

We are asking our patients to complete as much of the typical intake paperwork and collecting of insurance information electronically to reduce the amount of team members they need to be exposed to at the office.

We have very strict cleanliness procedures for anyone who comes in to our office at every point of their visit to lower risk of potential infection.

Now more than ever, we need to take care of ourselves, our families, and our communities as best we can, while practicing safe social distancing recommendations. We will get through these difficult times together, and I promise you our office and our team will be here to support you as best we can during these changes, and will be even stronger once we can return to normal care.

Be well, stay strong, take care of each other.

– Six One Six Vision Center Team

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