Observational studies have suggested that higher intake or blood levels of vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with lower risks of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A recent large randomized trial (VITAL), however, has concluded that supplementation with vitamin D3 and marine omega-3 fatty acids actually had no significant overall effect on […]
For over two decades, eye health organizations have worked diligently to increase awareness of the high risks of macular degeneration from tobacco smoking. Now, the recently-released 2020 Surgeon General’s report has revealed that the work of those organizations is paying off. Americans are doing better at making good choices when it comes to smoking. According […]
The first rule of nutrition for maintaining good retina health is, for some people, the most difficult to swallow. Consuming a diet rich in leafy green vegetables for their high antioxidant values is highly recommended by professional nutritionists and eye care specialists, and no one argues about its preventative value. So why is this rule […]
We have known for more than a decade that chocolate is a good antioxidant and, therefore, healthy for the eyes. A 2003 study by scientists at Cornell University in New York and Seoul National University in Korea showed that cocoa has almost twice the antioxidant power of wine, 2-3 times that of green tea, and […]
(Updated 7/29/19) Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease of the retina wherein the light-sensing cells in the central area of vision (the macula) stop working and eventually die. The disease is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and it is most common in people who are age […]
Australian investigators have found that patients who consumed two or more eggs per week reduced their risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) by 62% compared to those who consumed 1 or fewer. More than 3,600 patients from the Blue Mountains Eye Study, aged 49+ years, were examined across a 15-year follow-up period. 2,034 […]
Neovascularization is the term applied to growth of errant blood vessels into the retina. This can occur whenever the retina is compromised by diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, myopic degeneration, or diabetic macular edema. Neovascularization is initially identified during dilated eye examinations, the scheduling of which depends upon the patient’s initiative in acquiring and […]
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. My stocking was hung by the chimney with care, But I ripped it right down when I tripped on the chair. Then out on the lawn I heard such a clatter, I rose from the floor to […]
A report published in Review of Optometry on November 5, 2018 announced research* showing that non-anemic patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) who take oral iron supplements may be at risk of retinal/subretinal hemorrhage. Researchers have found that use of oral iron supplements was significantly associated with retinal/subretinal hemorrhage at baseline in patients with […]
A report from the National Poll on Healthy Aging reveals that more than half of older patients surveyed said their primary care providers have not asked them about their vision. Considering the number of ailments that can affect the aging population, vision is unfortunately often overlooked. This is concerning, since the incidence of age-related macular […]