Eye health
The cause of AMD is unknown, but several factors appear to increase the risk of developing it. If you are aged 55 or over, taking action now to minimise your risk may help protect your sight for the future.
1. Stop smoking
The link between AMD and smoking is as strong as that between smoking and lung cancer. If you smoke you are up to 4 times more likely to develop AMD than if you are a non-smoker and the greater the amount you smoke, the more likely you are to suffer from the condition. What is more, you are likely to develop AMD around 10 years earlier if you are a smoker.
2. Regular eye tests
If you are aged 55 or over it's important that you go for regular eye examinations with your Optician - at least every two years until you are 59 and annually from the age of 60. Ask your Optician to check the back of your eye for AMD - this is important because of the increased risk of degenerative eye disease when you get older. The eye examination can also detect a number of other underlying eye or general health problems, such as glaucoma, high blood pressure or diabetes.
3. Be 'eye aware'
Ensure you check each of your eyes one at a time. Cover one eye with your hand and look at a door frame or other straight edged objects. If you notice any changes to your vision, for example your bathroom tiles appearing wavy or your window frames not appearing straight, see your Optician for an eye health check or talk to your GP.
4. Eat a healthy diet
- Make sure you eat a balanced diet. Aim for 5 or more servings of fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables a day - as vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and zinc may help delay or reduce the severity of AMD
- Eat a diet low in saturated fats - people with an increased Body Mass Index (BMI) are at higher risk of developing AMD
- A diet rich in omega 3 fats and oily fish may help prevent and slow down the progression of AMD and other age-related diseases
5. Keep an eye on your relatives/friends
Watch out for signs that they might be having vision problems, for example if they seem to shut one eye to see more clearly, or are having trouble focusing on objects.