Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the highest cause of irreversible vision loss for individuals over the age of 65 and affects almost 10% of the population. It is estimated that by the year 2040, 288 million people will be affected. The good news is that there are many diet and lifestyle choices you can implement to dramatically reduce your risk. Implementing these changes, at any age or any stage of the disease, is very beneficial. We recommend starting these tips even as early as the age of 20. The steps listed below also support god heart health and cognitive function as well.

1. Please don’t smoke or vape—smokers are 4x more at risk for AMD than non-smokers—vaping and smoking damage retina tissue
2. Eat plenty of dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale and collard greens—this reduces your risk by 43%--we encourage you to incorporate a large salad daily as one of your main meals or as an addition to one of your meals
3. Eat fatty fish such as salmon—there is a 40% decreased risk with 2-3 servings a week
4. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight—this decreases your risk by 70%--your goal for exercise should be at least 2 miles of walking 3 times a week or the equivalent
5. Eat fruits and nuts daily—a Harvard study found that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day reduces your risk—an Australian study released in August of 2018 concluded that eating an orange a day reduces your risk by 60% due to their flavonoid content, an important micro-nutrient
6. Reduced refined carbs—avoid as many processed foods as possible such as white bread, cookies, etc. It’s better to eat the good, unprocessed carbs or whole grains such as oats or sweet potatoes.
7. Control blood pressure and cholesterol—the more these two conditions can be controlled, especially naturally through diet over medications, the better protection you will have for AMD
8. Wear sunglasses with UV and blue light protection—individuals with too much exposure to blue light are 4x more likely to develop advanced AMD, also known as wet AMD.
9. Have regular yearly eye exams—early detection is key—consider looking at an Amsler Grid daily.
10. If your diet and life-style habits are similar to the recommendations listed above, you most likely will not need a vitamin supplement unless you become diagnosed with AMD. However, if you consume a diet void of large quantities of fruits and vegetables, rarely exercise and eat foods high in saturated fats on a regular basis, then a vitamin supplement specially designed to protect your eyes, preferable a vitamin designed from the AREDS #2 formula and/or by Macuhealth may be of benefit for you.

*Chris Knobbe, M. D., "Macular Degeneration Prevention," All About Vision, httsps://allaboutvision.com, 11 Steps to Help Prevent Macular Degeneration.