Macular degeneration is a serious problem; but while this degenerative disease could be rather crippling, know that there is still so much that you can do apart from visiting your eye doctor on a regular basis. If you value your eyesight and understand how important it is, then this article is exactly what you need. Who wants to be completely blind by the age of 75? Imagine being unable to do the things you love to do; such as to read and write, play sports, or to go out and see a movie. Macular degeneration can steal all that away from you, but only if you are not careful.
In the United States, Macular degeneration has become one of the main causes for blindness in people over the age of 55. What most people do not understand, however, is that this disease can easily be prevented. As a matter of fact, as long as it is detected at an early age, it is possible to reverse or even halt the entire progression of the disease.
Macular degeneration is caused by the unstable free radical molecules of oxygen that can enter the body and damage the cells in the macula of the eye. It can occur in two different forms: dry or wet. The dry form is the most common type and with this one, the macula of the eye will have drusen (yellow spots or deposits).
It initially begins with the dulling of your eyesight and can progress into the loss of your central vision. Compared to the wet form, this one is less severe however there is sometimes the likelihood of the dry form to develop into the wet form.
When a person suffers from the wet form, on the other hand, vision can be lost very quickly. It is caused by a leak on any of the blood vessels that run through the retina of the eye which develops scarring that will eventually obscure the eyesight. It presents itself initially as wavy lines and small blind spots, but in later stages a person can completely lose vision at the center and only see from the corners of the eye.
The question is: is there a way to prevent?
Here are some helpful tips to be able to fight Macular degeneration.
1. Once you reach the age of 50, make it a habit to visit your eye doctor. The doctor can easily detect Macular degeneration even at its early stages and if the disease is detected earlier, it can easily be reversed.
2. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin A. The ability of the body to ward off diseases is more effective if it is aided with the proper nutrients. Green leafy vegetable are great sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, both found in vitamin A, of the carotenoid family.
Obtaining the right levels of these nutrients are often very hard to achieve. For this reason, most patients rely on supplements.
Here is a chart that shows which food contains a high percentage of lutein and zeaxanthin.
a. Broccoli 2,900mcg
b. Celery 3,600mcg
c. Kale 21,900mcg
d. Leaf Lettuce 1,800mcg
e. Mustard greens 9,900mcg
f. Peas 1,700mcg
g. Spinach (cooked) 12,600mcg
h. Spinach (raw) 10,200mcg
The other carotenoids in the vitamin A family can also be very good antioxidants to protect your body from the effect of free radical cell invasion. Orange-colored vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe are very good sources of these nutrients and can also aid in the prevention of Macular degeneration.
3. There are also herbal products that can help reverse or even stop the progression of the disease by improving the blood flow in the retina of the eye. Bilberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, prunes, and plums are very good sources of anthocyanosides, a powerful antioxidant that can fight free radicals from damaging the tissues of your eyes.
4. Improve your lifestyle. There are a number of practices that can worsen your health and sometimes even lead to disease.
Caring for your eyes more will surely prevent the disease from causing you harm, in a number of ways such as:
1. Stop smoking as it can cause damage not just to the cells in your eyes but in many other important parts in the body.
2. Stay away from fatty foods and those that are high in cholesterol.
3. Alcohol drinking can increase the risk of damaging the macula of your eyes.
4. Caffeine can also make the symptoms of the disease even worse.
5. Radiation from the ultraviolet rays of the sun can easily damage your eyes, so never look onto the sky directly; wear sunglasses.
There is so much that you can do to prevent the onset of Macular degeneration. If you value your eyesight and are worried of facing a “dark” future, follow the aforementioned tips.
