Managing Macular Degeneration
Our eyes, though indispensable, are also very fragile. A single condition left untreated can lead to permanent vision loss. Funny thing about eye exams and the general public, though — most people worry more about the timing of oil changes in their cars than about having any sort of regular eye exams.
That’s a bad idea when it comes to your eyes because you’re playing with your sight. When you come see the expert team at Central Valley Eye Medical Group for your regular eye exams, we can spot problems such as macular degeneration early on. This is critical to this sight-robbing eye disease, as it doesn’t usually exhibit any early symptoms.
In this month’s first blog, we went over the details of what macular degeneration is and how it affects eyesight. In this second blog, let’s go over some things you can do to try and lower your odds of developing macular degeneration. Yes, it is a result of aging and we can’t do anything about that, but we can help to slow the progression.
Tips for managing the disease
Here are some things you can and should do to keep your eyes in good condition. For those who are already diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, follow these guidelines to slow the progression of the disease.
- Smoking is a risk factor. Don’t smoke. If you do, quit.
- Consume dark, leafy vegetables. Eating half a cup of raw spinach three times a week can greatly improve the condition of your eyes.
- To supplement your healthy diet, take multivitamins.
- Consuming fruit and nuts on a daily basis keeps your eyes bright and healthy.
- Exercise is key. Keep your body moving regularly and maintain a stable and healthy weight.
- Lower your intake of food with refined carbohydrates.
- Eating fish or fish oil supplements is good for your eyes.
- When going outdoors, make sure to wear appropriate sunglasses, particularly those that will block the damaging UV rays of the sun. Direct exposure to sunlight can greatly damage your eyes.
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.
- Visit your eye doctor regularly and have regular eye exams. Early detection of eye diseases leads to early treatment and better results.
- Patients with AMD may ask for treatments under AREDS formulations.
Most cases of macular degeneration, especially the dry form, can be successfully managed to slow any potential vision loss and to reduce the amount of damage that is done by the disease. But as we mentioned earlier, we can’t do a thing about it if we don’t see you for regular eye exams.
Don’t take your vision for granted. Call the expert team at Central Valley Eye Medical Group, (800) 244-9907, and schedule your next eye exam.
Posted in: Macular Degeneration Treatment
