Health Care

By Sturat Mitchel

Here are some of the common causes:

1. Smoking

If we were to name the number one preventable cause of macular degeneration it would be smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by nearly 50 percent, reveals a recent analysis of about 3,500 Beaver Dam, Wis. residents undergoing eye-related studies since 1987. The finding was reported in the January 2008 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

2. High Blood Pressure

The blood vessels that supply blood to your eyes, and in particular, the retina are very small and delicate. Like other blood vessels, they are damaged by high blood pressure. This can result in the blood vessels leaking which leads to fluid building up in the choroid, a layer of blood vessels that lie under the retina.

High blood pressure may be more of a significant risk factor for developing wet age related macular degeneration, the kind that causes significant vision loss.

3. Medications

There are certain medications that may have adverse effects on the eye. In the book The First Year - Age Related Macular Degeneration by Daniel L. Roberts, there is an entire appendix listing these different prescription medications and their side effects.

4. Family History

Macular Degeneration runs in families. My husband's father and all of his siblings have AMD. This awareness is helpful to me as a wife and a R.N. to begin now to protect the eyes of my husband and to be proactive in trying to prevent it - for him and our adult children.

5. Sunlight

Surprisingly, not all studies confirm that ultraviolet light is a risk factor for macular degeneration (although it is for the development of cataracts). However bluelight has been shown to cause damage to our retinas and is one of the causes of macular degeneration.

6. Poor Diet

A diet low in dark green leafy vegetables and antioxidant rich foods, plus too high in omega-6 fatty acids increases your risk of AMD.

7. Exposure to Pesticides, Car Exhaust and Household Cleaners

Most of you have heard the term "free radicals." And you may also know that free radicals cause damage to our bodies.

When we are exposed to toxins in our environment - the air we breathe, the water we drink or the food we eat - our body produces free radicals. These free radicals then cause damage to our bodies and to our eyes as well.

Now that you know some of the main causes of macular degeneration, wouldn't you like to know what you can do to prevent this number one cause of vision loss in those over the age of 65?

If so go to http://www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com/macular-degeneration-prevention.html

Leslie Degner, RN,BSN

Better Health For Better Vision

http://www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com

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