You know the food you eat affects your health. More specifically, researchers have found that your diet actually has an impact on your risks for age-related macular degeneration.
A small area at the back of the eye, the macula works to offer sharp, central vision necessary for seeing ahead. In people 50 years old and up, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss. According to expert eye doctor Joel H. McGahen, it rarely leads to complete blindness, but it can hamper activities like reading and driving.
Eating a lot of fruits and vegetables is good for your eye health but focusing on your antioxidant intake seems to have a positive effect on slowing down the progress of age-related macular degeneration based on the Age-Related Eye Disease Study carried out by the National Eye Institutes.
If the necessary nutrients cannot be acquired through a diverse diet, the National Eye Institute suggests people at high risks of vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration should take daily supplements containing 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 international units of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta carotene, 80 milligrams of zinc and 2 mg of copper. For more on how you can address age-related macular degeneration, scheduling a trip to a low vision specialist is a must.
Eat a diet with colorful servings, especially those with deep, rich colors. In particular, double down on fruits and vegetables rich in lutein (kale, collards, spinach, mustard greens, Swiss chard, guava, red peppers and dill) and zeaxanthin (broccoli, turnip greens, corn, orange sweet peppers, dark leafy greens, oranges, tangerines, persimmon and eggs), as these carotenoids collect in and around the macula, helping in preserving vision.
Joel H. McGahen has one mission: to provide the best eye care services possible. To this end, our experienced doctors and staff offer personalized eye care to everyone who walks through our doors, ensuring you are receiving the eye care you want and need exactly. Looking for new eyeglasses? Need contact lenses? We have you covered.
To learn more about what we can do for you, simply give us a call at (717) 264-4012 or fill out our contact form. Schedule an appointment with us today! We serve Shippensburg, Green Castle and the surrounding communities in Pennsylvania.
