| When we look at something, we sharp detail in | | | | arteries. Both of these methods depend on a |
| the center of our field of vision. Toward the | | | | healthy diet. The macula is a yellowish tissue. Its |
| periphery, the image becomes less distinct. This | | | | color comes from high concentration of yellow |
| way of seeing reflects the way the image | | | | pigments, especially lutein, zeaxanthin, and |
| appears on the retina. The cone-rich part of the | | | | lycopene. These pigments are carotenes, but the |
| retina that handles fine detail in the center of the | | | | body does not convert them into vitamin A. They |
| field of vision is called macula. Sometimes damage | | | | function to prevent oxidative damage to the |
| occurs to this part of the eye, causing the cells to | | | | retina, and they play a key role in preventing |
| lose their ability to perceive light. This condition is | | | | macular degeneration. Increasing your levels of |
| known as macula degeneration. It appears that | | | | lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin can play a central |
| free-radical damage is one culprit, but a decreased | | | | role in protecting against the development of |
| supply of blood and oxygen to the retina also | | | | macular degeneration. Although lycopene and lutein |
| may be involved. Major risk factors include | | | | supplements are entering the marketplace, they |
| smoking, atherosclerosis, and high blood pressure. | | | | are relatively expensive, especially when you |
| More than 150,000 Americans suffer from the | | | | compare them with food sources. In short, it |
| condition, and the number of cases will rise as the | | | | looks as though the cheapest and healthiest way |
| population ages. | | | | to boost lycopene levels is through diet. Foods rich |
| There are two kinds of macular degeneration. The | | | | in the important carotenes for the eye will also be |
| "wet" form involves growth of abnormal blood | | | | high in vitamin C and other antioxidants. |
| vessels. Laser surgery is often recommended to | | | | Zinc plays an essential role in retinal function. |
| stop the growth. The "dry" form is more | | | | Some, but not all studies report that elderly |
| common, affecting perhaps nine out of ten people | | | | persons taking zinc supplements have a lower |
| with macular degeneration. This form occurs when | | | | rate of vision loss than those who do not. |
| cellular debris, called lipofuscin, accumulates in | | | | Flavonoid-rich extracts improve eye function and |
| retinal tissue and disrupts the cone cells. | | | | are known to prevent macular degeneration. In |
| There is no known treatment for dry macular | | | | my opinion, bilberry, Ginkgo biloba, and grape seed |
| degeneration. A tune-up, however, may help you | | | | extracts are completely interchangeable in this |
| prevent the condition. The strategy is twofold: | | | | application. |
| increase antioxidants and prevent hardening of the | | | | |