Risk factors for AMD include ones that you can change and ones that you can't.
One's that can't be changed include family history, date of birth, eye colour and gender.
So what can you do?
Protection against radiation
This means a good pair of sunglasses, to prescription if necessary, which protect against UV radiation and blue light. Good examples of this would be Airwear Melanin and Transitions lenses. ALso wearing a wide-brimmed hat or a peaked cap can be beneficial as well as wearing the sunglasses.
Supplementing Macular Pigment
Taking MacuShield, as early as possible in life will help to build up the natural protective layer at the back of the eye which helps to protect against blue light damage and also acts as an anti-oxidant to prevent the signs of ageing. You can purchase MacuShield from any of our practices or online here. Be careful how much you pay! We charge €19 for a one month supply and €52.00 for a three month supply. I have seen it in pharmacies for sale in the mid-twenty Euro range for the one pack, and a well known chain seems to charge sixty Euro or so for a three month supply.
Supplementing Omega 3
Much of the retina is rich in Omega 3 and it is partly the damage to this substance at the back of the eye that causes cells to become damaged and die. By replenishing the Omega 3, cells can be protected from the ill effects of cell damage due to the radiation and free-radical damage. Most pharmacies and health food shops should have this product.
Losing Weight
Simply put, all the cells in the body compete for the goodness that we ingest in our diets. The more cells there are (the more 'cuddly' you might be), the more competition there is - there is less good stuff to go round!
Maintaining Vascular Health
Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control is also important, as much of the state of health of the eyes depends on a good blood supply.
Smoking
Everyone knows you shouldn't. Even if you gave up a long time ago, some damage will have been done. Carrying on smoking is a definite 'No' as far as the eyes are concerned. Smoking was one of the first modifiable risk factors discovered in AMD research.
