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Dry macular degeneration is a common eye disorder among people over 65. It causes blurred or reduced central vision due to thinning of the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for people’s direct line of sight.
Studies have shown that those who follow a Mediterranean style diet that includes oily fish – which are a good source of omega-3 – have a reduced risk of developing macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that results in blurred vision’, Ms Bertrand said.
Australian researchers found in 2000 a protective effect among those who reported eating more than one serving of fish per week compared with those who consumed less than one serving per month. Similiarly, a British study in 2008, found that the risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration – a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older – was halved in individuals who ate oily fish at least once per week compared with less than once per week.
Cold water fish such as salmon and tuna are great for keeping your eyes moist and feeling healthy. They contain lots of omega-3 which helps prevent dry eyes, macular degeneration (AMD) and even cataracts. Omega-3 fatty acids provide structural support to cell membranes in the eye. If you don’t eat fish, you can get plenty of omega-3 from flaxseeds or diet supplements.
Avocados are packed with the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and these reduce the amount of damaging light to the eye, therefore reducing the risk of AMD and cataracts, which are common in older adults. A study in France, found a strong connection between a high level of zeaxanthin and reduced risk of age-related maculopathy – an eye disease with risk factors of high blood pressure, prolonged exposure to the sun and a diet poor in anxtioxidant vitamins and minerals.
Avocados are also rich in vitamin C, which Ms Bertrand said is essential for your eye health: ‘Nutrients such as vitamin C have been associated with helping to protect and keep your eyes healthy as it may help provide protection against UV damage.’
Avocados are also rich in vitamin C, which Ms Bertrand said is essential for your eye health: ‘Nutrients such as vitamin C have been associated with helping to protect and keep your eyes healthy as it may help provide protection against UV damage.’
Up to 20 per cent of cataracts may be caused by overexposure to UV radiation and are therefore avoidable, according the the WHO.Eggs are a great source of vitamin A which is crucial in maintaining good eye health.
Vitamin A has shown to be helpful in reducing dry eyes and has benefits in those with certain eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa. Egg yolks also contain zeaxanthin, an antioxidant that can help protect the eyes against damage due to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Eggs also contain lutein, considered the ‘eye vitamin’. Scientists from Texas compared the percentage of the vitamin in eggs with 33 different fruits and vegetables – another dietary source.
They found that egg yolk had the highest amounts of lutein. Since eggs have a high cholesterol content, a restricted intake of eggs has been recommended for many years, since cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary artery disease.
Dry macular degeneration develops gradually, affecting people’s ability to do things, such as read, drive and recognise faces. Symptoms are usually painless and include: Visual distortions, such as straight lines appearing bent, Reduced central vision, Need for brighter lights, Difficulty adapting to low-level lights, Blurred printed words, Reduced colour brightness, Difficulty recognising faces, Dry macular degeneration usually affects both eyes eventually. It rarely causes blindness due to peripheral vision being unaffected. The cause is unclear and may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as smoking.
It can be prevented via routine eye examination, managing conditions such as high blood pressure, not smoking and eating healthy diet.
‘Studies have shown that those who follow a Mediterranean style diet that includes oily fish – which are a good source of omega-3 – have a reduced risk of developing macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that results in blurred vision’, Ms Bertrand said. Australian researchers found in 2000 a protective effect among those who reported eating more than one serving of fish per week compared with those who consumed less than one serving per month.
It can be prevented via routine eye examination, managing conditions such as high blood pressure, not smoking and eating healthy diet.
‘Studies have shown that those who follow a Mediterranean style diet that includes oily fish – which are a good source of omega-3 – have a reduced risk of developing macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that results in blurred vision’, Ms Bertrand said. Australian researchers found in 2000 a protective effect among those who reported eating more than one serving of fish per week compared with those who consumed less than one serving per month.
Similiarly, a British study in 2008, found that the risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration – a leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 and older – was halved in individuals who ate oily fish at least once per week compared with less than once per week. Cold water fish such as salmon and tuna are great for keeping your eyes moist and feeling healthy. They contain lots of omega-3 which helps prevent dry eyes, macular degeneration (AMD) and even cataracts.