Reviewed by Jeffry Gerson, OD, FAAO

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss. This disease affects approximately 20 million people in the United States, and nearly 1.5 million Americans have the advanced form of the disease.

Some of the most common risk factors for AMD:
Women seem more affected than men.
People with light-colored eyes.
People who smoke.
Hypertension
People with a family history of AMD
Environment
Diet
What you can do to protect your eyes.
Have a dilated comprehensive eye exam to detect changes early
Stop smoking
If you have high blood pressure keep it under control
Diet: Eat a healthy diet of fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, tuna
Lots of green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, Kale, and Collards to name a few
Eat less refined carbohydrates
Incorporate ingredients from a Mediterranean diet
If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration follow the advice of your eye care professional.
Let them know right away if you notice any changes.

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