| Here are some of the common causes: | | | | Macular Degeneration runs in families. My husband's |
| 1. Smoking | | | | father and all of his siblings have AMD. This |
| If we were to name the number one preventable | | | | awareness is helpful to me as a wife and a R.N. to |
| cause of macular degeneration it would be | | | | begin now to protect the eyes of my husband |
| smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing | | | | and to be proactive in trying to prevent it - for |
| age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by nearly | | | | him and our adult children. |
| 50 percent, reveals a recent analysis of about | | | | 5. Sunlight |
| 3,500 Beaver Dam, Wis. residents undergoing | | | | Surprisingly, not all studies confirm that ultraviolet |
| eye-related studies since 1987. The finding was | | | | light is a risk factor for macular degeneration |
| reported in the January 2008 issue of Archives of | | | | (although it is for the development of cataracts). |
| Ophthalmology. | | | | However bluelight has been shown to cause |
| 2. High Blood Pressure | | | | damage to our retinas and is one of the causes |
| The blood vessels that supply blood to your eyes, | | | | of macular degeneration. |
| and in particular, the retina are very small and | | | | 6. Poor Diet |
| delicate. Like other blood vessels, they are | | | | A diet low in dark green leafy vegetables and |
| damaged by high blood pressure. This can result in | | | | antioxidant rich foods, plus too high in omega-6 |
| the blood vessels leaking which leads to fluid | | | | fatty acids increases your risk of AMD. |
| building up in the choroid, a layer of blood vessels | | | | 7. Exposure to Pesticides, Car Exhaust and |
| that lie under the retina. | | | | Household Cleaners |
| High blood pressure may be more of a significant | | | | Most of you have heard the term "free radicals." |
| risk factor for developing wet age related macular | | | | And you may also know that free radicals cause |
| degeneration, the kind that causes significant | | | | damage to our bodies. |
| vision loss. | | | | When we are exposed to toxins in our |
| 3. Medications | | | | environment - the air we breathe, the water we |
| There are certain medications that may have | | | | drink or the food we eat - our body produces |
| adverse effects on the eye. In the book The | | | | free radicals. These free radicals then cause |
| First Year - Age Related Macular Degeneration by | | | | damage to our bodies and to our eyes as well. |
| Daniel L. Roberts, there is an entire appendix listing | | | | Now that you know some of the main causes of |
| these different prescription medications and their | | | | macular degeneration, wouldn't you like to know |
| side effects. | | | | what you can do to prevent this number one |
| 4. Family History | | | | cause of vision loss in those over the age of 65? |