MD Awareness Month: 3 Ways to Protect Your Sight

You’ve probably heard of macular degeneration. It’s an eye disease in which you lose central vision, or the ability to see objects straight in front of you. It’s a progressive condition, which means it worsens over time without treatment. 

Our board-certified ophthalmologists with Wolchok Eye Associates, PA, treat patients with AMD (age-related macular degeneration) with compassion and care. 

You play a role in your overall health, and that includes your eye health. Articles in the news highlight the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet. What steps can you take to lower your risk of AMD? The following are three ways to help protect your vision. 

Make appointments for eye exams as your eye doctor advises 

AMD is one of the diseases with no early warning signs. Patients often have no symptoms. You think your eyes are fine, since you don’t see floaters or have other noticeable vision problems. Although, that may not be the case. 

Experts recommend eye exams every two years for adults up to age 65. Senior adults should get a comprehensive eye exam annually. If you’re at heightened risk for eye disease, your Wolchok eye doctor tells you how often to schedule your eye exams; you most likely need to be seen more than once a year. 

Your Wolchok ophthalmologist can identify early signs of AMD before you experience permanent and irreversible eye damage. Your doctor explains the type of AMD (wet or dry) and discusses the treatment plan with you. 

Eat healthy foods, including vegetables and fruits with antioxidants

Well-known studies on AMD, referred to as AREDS2 (short for Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2), demonstrate the benefits of consuming specific prescription vitamins and minerals containing high amounts of micronutrients. They can help slow disease progression in people with intermediate dry AMD. Your doctor may also prescribe the AREDS2 regimen if you have wet AMD. 

If your doctor determines you have early-stage AMD, you receive guidance on specific types of foods to eat. These foods contain the types of vitamins and minerals in the AREDS2 supplements: 

• Dark, leafy greens such as spinach or kale
• Fish containing high amounts of omega-3s, such as salmon and tuna
• Colorful vegetables such as peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli
• Fruits such as berries and citrus, including oranges and grapefruit
• Eggs
• Nuts, including walnuts and almonds
• Whole grains, including oats and whole wheat bread with seeds

You may notice red meat isn’t on the list. If you love red meat, it’s time to change your habit. It’s linked with an increased risk for AMD. 

Likewise, avoid processed and junk foods; they have little nutritional value and often have a high glycemic index. Consistently high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels in your eyes, increasing the risk of AMD.

Stop using tobacco 

Did you know that smoking triples your risk for AMD? That’s a great reason to stop using tobacco. 

The chemicals in tobacco damage the cells in your retina. They also constrict blood vessels in your eye, limiting oxygen and other nutrients necessary to keep your eyes healthy. Using tobacco also weakens your immune system, placing you at heightened risk for many types of disease. 

For expert eye care, call Wolchok Eye Associates, PA, or request an appointment through our online portal today.