| Are you finding that you can't see as well as you | | | | carotenoids are spinach, collard greens and kale. |
| used to? Are you beginning to see spotted, | | | | Other vegetables also contain it though, just in |
| wavy, distorted, or blurry images? This loss of | | | | fewer amounts. These vegetables, from the |
| vision might not be just a part of getting older. | | | | highest amount to the lowest amount, include |
| You could have AMD (age related macular | | | | parsley, mustard greens, dill, celery, scallions, leeks, |
| degeneration). | | | | broccoli, leaf lettuce, lettuce, green peas, pumpkin, |
| Macular Degeneration is actually an irreversible eye | | | | brussel sprouts, summer squash, corn, green |
| disease. It is caused by the progressive | | | | beans, green pepper, green olives and tomatoes. |
| deterioration of the central retina (macula), | | | | You should include an abundance of these |
| affecting your central vision. AMD destroys cells in | | | | vegetables in your diet. |
| your eyes and once they are damaged, you lose | | | | There are many dietary supplements that you |
| the ability to see details. However, it does not | | | | can take to slow the progression of AMD. |
| destroy your peripheral vision, nor will your vision | | | | Vitamins such as vitamin E, C, zinc and |
| go completely black. You will still be able to see | | | | beta-carotene have been known to help. You can |
| light, movement and shapes. There are ways to | | | | take a high dose of these supplements; however, |
| preserve your eyesight before it gets that bad. | | | | this can be a risk for some people. Beta-carotene |
| There are some factors that have been found to | | | | can increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. |
| be linked to AMD, such as advancing age, genetic | | | | Please talk to your doctor before beginning a high |
| inheritance, smoking, nutrition, sun exposure and | | | | dose regimen. It is possible to lower your risk of |
| high blood pressure. The one factor that is the | | | | developing advanced macular degeneration by |
| most under your control is nutrition. Eating the | | | | 25% if you take this combination of vitamins. |
| right foods may help decrease your risk of | | | | There are still a few other things you can do to |
| developing macular degeneration. | | | | increase your risk. If you smoke, you should quit. |
| AMD is divided into two types, wet and dry. Wet | | | | Smoking hurts circulation in the body and causes |
| (neovascular) AMD occurs when vessels keep | | | | the blood vessels in the retina not to work as |
| forming to help the blood supply to the retinal | | | | efficiently. Wearing sunglasses regularly can also |
| tissue which is very oxygen deprived. The vessels | | | | help protect your eyes. Even though you cannot |
| that form are very fragile and easily break. This | | | | see ultraviolet (UV) light, it is still absorbed by your |
| causes damage and bleeding to the tissue. Wet | | | | eyes and eyelids. The sunglasses you get need to |
| AMD is much more severe than dry AMD. The | | | | block all UV rays, which are UVA, UVB and UVC. |
| dry form (non-neovascular) is much more | | | | Also, exercise regularly; this will increase your |
| common and is characterized by loss of pigment | | | | overall health and your circulatory system. |
| within the retina. | | | | If you already have AMD, taking these |
| Doctors have found that people who consumed | | | | preventative measures will greatly reduce your |
| the largest numbers of vegetables had a 43% | | | | risk of having it develop into advanced AMD. It |
| lower risk of getting AMD than people who ate | | | | you don't have it, you should make sure you are |
| the least amount of vegetables. It can't be just | | | | at least eating the right foods and not smoking. |
| any vegetable though; it must be rich in | | | | This will help your eyes get what they need and |
| carotenoids. Vegetables that contain the most | | | | prevent the disease from occurring. |