Tips for Reducing Your Risk of Macular Degeneration

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Do you have trouble seeing in low light conditions? Or is your vision blurry? These are possible signs of an eye disease known as macular degeneration. It mostly occurs as people age, but you can also get it earlier. Our optometrists in Pittsburgh, PA, at Lappen Eye Care provide care for this condition when needed. But you may be able to reduce your risk of this disease with the following tips.

Watch Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases your risk of developing this disease. Work on maintaining healthy blood pressure levels to protect your eyes and vision, such as exercising, limiting unhealthy foods, and taking blood pressure medication if needed.

Stay Within a Healthy Weight Range

Being overweight is another risk factor for having macular degeneration. If you have excess weight, try to lose those pounds through healthy eating and physical activity.

Give Up Cigarettes

Do you smoke? Being a smoker boosts your chance of having macular degeneration and other eye problems, especially as you get older. Make an effort to quit smoking to lower your risk of developing harmful eye conditions.

Follow the Mediterranean Diet

Studies show that this diet helps lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Include staples of this diet, such as leafy vegetables, salmon, whole grains, and nuts, in your meal plans to give your eyes added protection from this disease.

Schedule Eye Care in Pittsburgh!

Are you concerned about having macular degeneration or other eye conditions? Routine eye exams at Lappen Eye Care can help us catch these conditions early! We offer macular degeneration treatment in Pittsburgh, PA, along with treatment for other eye diseases. Make an appointment at one of our locations in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, South Hills, or McMurray.

Can Diet Help You Avoid AMD?

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While it can be difficult (to the point of impossible) to connect diet to help, there are strong links that it helps to know about. Generally, eating better can reduce your risk of most health disorders. However, if you have a family history of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in South Hills, PA, a condition that can lead to total blindness over time, we’ll look at what the research says about diet and AMD.

What to Eat

Here’s what you should know about AMD and diet:

  • Leafy greens: Veggies high in carotenoids are good for shielding the macula from all kinds of environmental threats (namely, the sun).
  • Fish: Acids like omega-3s, found in fatty types of fish, work great against inflammation, which can soothe the eye even when it’s under stress.
  • Broccoli: Anything high in antioxidants essentially protects the cells from damage. Broccoli, potatoes, and avocados all fall under this header.

The general requirements shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who’s trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. Anything from whole grains to healthy fats can reduce the odds of eye damage. Plus, as a bonus, it can improve your mood and help you feel better on a day-to-day basis.

Why Eye Exams in South Hills, PA

There is no such thing as staving off all disease, even if you can improve your odds by changing your habits. Catching AMD may not solve the issue entirely, but it may be able to slow the progression. That’s why it’s important to visit your optometrist in South Hills on a regular basis. As you age, the eye changes, and even if that change is slow, a trained eye can spot the differences.

Could You Have Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

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AMD, short for age-related macular degeneration, is a disease affecting the eyes that can cause blurriness in your central line of vision. The macula of your eye controls how well you see what is directly in front of you.

AMD is a top cause of vision loss among older adults. While this condition does not cause blindness, weak central vision affects your ability to drive, read, or see faces clearly. The condition usually develops slowly over many years, but some people experience a sudden onset of symptoms and rapid advancement.

People with early AMD often do not know it because they experience no symptoms at first. By getting routine eye exams in Pittsburgh, PA, you can catch AMD early while still in the most treatable stage.

AMD Types

Most people who receive a diagnosis of AMD have the dry type. Dry AMD occurs due to the macula thinning with age, and it usually takes several years to advance to the late stage. No treatment is available once it reaches this point, but our optometrists will work with you to make the most of the vision you have left.

Wet AMD is not as common, but it progresses faster than dry AMD and is always at a late stage at the time of diagnosis. This type of AMD causes abnormal blood vessel growth that results in damage to the macula.

Common Signs of AMD

AMD is progressive and has early, intermediate, and late stages. Most people notice no symptoms until the intermediate stage of dry AMD. Some notice that they have difficulty seeing in dim lighting conditions and that their vision seems mildly blurry.

People who have late stage wet AMD report blurriness and that lines that should be straight appear crooked or wavy. Colors seem duller as well. Please schedule an appointment with our optometry practice in Pittsburgh, PA right away if you notice any of these symptoms.