Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of vision loss among older people. Unlike cataracts that can cause general blurriness or “dimming” of vision, AMD affects the macula, the central part of the light-sensitive retina that provides sharp central vision used for reading, recognizing faces, driving, and using your computer (among other activities).
While there’s no cure for AMD, you can take a few simple steps to slow its progression. Here, the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts offers a quick overview of those steps to help you protect your vision now and in the future.
Even though you can’t “reverse” damage caused by AMD, you can take simple steps to slow its progression and protect your vision overall.
AMD doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages, which is why having regular, comprehensive eye exams is so important. During these exams, we examine your eyes, including your light-sensitive retina, for subtle signs associated with AMD.
If you already have AMD, we may use special imaging techniques like optical coherence tomography (OCT) to obtain in-depth details that can help us fine-tune your treatment plan.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with AMD, we may recommend vitamin supplements developed specifically for eye health. AREDS/AREDS2 (named for the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies) supplements feature a combination of nutrients shown to reduce the risk of AMD progression.
These supplements aren’t recommended for everyone with AMD, and they don’t prevent the disease from developing in the first place. But they do provide key nutrients to support better eye health for many people dealing with AMD.
You might not realize it, but your everyday habits affect your eye health, too. To reduce your risk of AMD or slow its progression, aim to make physical activity part of your daily routine, eat a healthy diet rich in oily fish and leafy green vegetables, and quit smoking.
Invest in a good pair of sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays and wear them every day, along with a wide-brimmed hat on days when you’re spending a lot of time outdoors. If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, ask your doctor about treatments to help manage those issues, too.
AMD progresses at different rates. Those rates are affected by various factors, including things you can’t control — like your age and family history — and some things you can. Managing these modifiable risk factors is one of the best ways to slow disease progression and protect your vision overall.
When it comes to slowing AMD progression, quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take to slow progression of AMD (and even prevent it in the first place). Smoking damages blood vessels that support eye health, and quitting helps stop that damage.
It’s also important to know that if you smoke and you take an AREDS supplement, the AREDS2 formulation is typically preferred over the original AREDS formula.
High blood pressure can narrow the tiny vessels that “feed” your retinas, while excess cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to form under the retina, accelerating tissue damage. If you have hypertension or high cholesterol, keeping it under control is essential not only for your eyes but also for your overall health.
Being overweight or obese or having a diet that’s low in key nutrients are factors that increase chronic inflammatory responses in your body. In turn, ongoing inflammation speeds up tissue damage associated with AMD. Poor nutrition also deprives the retina of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and strong.
Like other vision issues, AMD starts slowly, and initial vision changes may not seem like they’re anything to worry about. The fact is, treating AMD in its earliest stages is the best way to slow its progression over time. Regular eye exams are essential for spotting these changes as early as possible, even before any noticeable changes occur.
No treatment can completely prevent AMD, but you can do things to slow its progression and reduce your risk of developing it in the first place.
To learn more about AMD treatment and how we can help you maintain healthy vision, request an appointment online or by phone with the team at Long Island Ophthalmic Concepts in Bellmore and Great Neck, New York, today.
