Protect Your Eyesight with These 5 Things

Age-Related Macular Degeneration or AMD is one of the most common eye problems that seniors in the United States grapple with. This article gives you an insight on what AMD is and what preventive measures can be taken to keep it at bay.

Over 1.75 million people in the United States alone are unable to see clearly all thanks to an age-related eye disorder known as AMD. AMD is a condition that affects the retina, a fine tissue film that coats the rear portion of the eye and is responsible for some of the most crucial functions that enable healthy vision. Conversion of the light received from the eye lens into neural indicators and transmitting these to the brain are activities that are performed by the retina, making it the most indispensable part of the eye. With age, though, the retina begins to experience significant deterioration especially if you aren’t a fitness aficionado. The macula, a portion of your retina that makes it possible for you to see objects right in front of you with sharp and focused clarity, is most vulnerable to age-related damage. This breakdown of the macula over time leads to weakened vision, metamorphosing things right in front of you into blurred images that are often dotted with blackish-grey spots.

Thankfully, some controllable risk factors contribute to the onset of AMD. Understanding what these factors are and taking proactive actions to sidestep them is a good start to avoiding AMD. Here are some ways in which you can preserve your vision as you age:

1. Get Rid of Those Smokes – Amongst other health problems, vision impairment is one of the major fallouts of active or even passive smoking. It elevates the overall oxidative stress, promotes the accumulation of blood platelets, and increases the quantity of fibrinogen in the body, all of which causes AMD. Giving up smoking is, therefore, the first step towards maintaining healthy vision.
2. Protect Your Eyes from UVA and UVB rays – The ultraviolet radiations emitted by the sun can harm not only your skin but also your eyes. Wearing protective eyewear when exposed to the sun can help you reduce the risk of contracting AMD at a later stage in life.
3. Shed the Extra Body Weight – Overweight individuals have been seen to be at a higher risk of contracting AMD as compared to those with a BMI within the recommended range.
4. Keep A Check on Your Blood Pressure – The eye consists of millions of tiny blood carriers that can face severe damage if your blood pressure is continually high. It is possible to keep blood pressure within the acceptable range by adopting a low-salt, healthy diet and exercising.
5. Consume Antioxidant-Rich Food – Foods that are laden with healthy antioxidants are very beneficial in lowering the oxidative stress in your body and, therefore, pulling down your AMD risk score. Brightly hued fruits like oranges, mangoes, and cantaloupes can do the trick, as can leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, and kale.

It is evident that overall fitness is paramount to long-lasting eyesight. Trying towards adopting a healthy lifestyle can be instrumental in helping you skirt the risk of losing the ability to appreciate the beautiful sights around you as you grow older.