Keep Eyesight Sharp by Avoiding Macular Degeneration

Seasoned British actress Dame Judi Dench recently revealed that she has age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and her eyesight has deteriorated to the point that she has to rely on family and friends to read scripts to her. But she hopes that treatment will stop her vision from deteriorating further. Dench is not alone: Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States, affecting 13 million people. AMD affects the eye's retina, causing deterioration in the cells of the macula — which is in the center of the retina — resulting in a loss of sharp central vision. It usually affects older adults and involves a genetic component. In Dench's case, her mom also suffered from the disease. "I've got what my ma had," she told Britain's Daily Mirror. There are two forms of macular degeneration, dry (more than 85 percent of cases) and wet form. Dry AMD is related to aging, while wet AMD is the more serious form and occurs when new, fragile blood vessels grow under the macula and leak fluid. Dame Judi has both — a form in each eye. ALERT: 3 Nutrients Work Better Than Statins in Stopping Heart Attacks. Dry AMD usually advances slowly, and there are no symptoms in the early stage. According to the National Eye Institute, a blurred spot in the center of your vision may occur in the intermediate stage, and you may need more light for reading. In advanced AMD, the blurred spot gets bigger, making it difficult to see and distinguish faces. People over the age of 60 are at much greater risk for developing AMD. One study found that by the age of 75, the risk increased to almost 30 percent. Risk factors include: • Smoking. • Obesity. • Race (whites are more susceptible than African-Americans). • Gender. More women have AMD. • Family history. Having family members with AMD raises the risk. Changes in lifestyle can also reduce your risk of developing AMD. To ward it off, you should: • Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. • Stop smoking. • Maintain a normal weight. • Watch your blood pressure. • Exercise. Wet AMD can be treated with several therapies: • Laser surgery. A laser destroys leaky blood vessels, but unfortunately, it also destroys healthy tissue. • Photodynamic therapy. A drug (verteporfin) is injected into the arm and travels to the leaky blood vessels. A light activates the drug, which destroys the new, leaky blood vessels. • Injections. Drugs are injected into the eye to block the development of new, abnormal blood vessels. Fortunately, natural supplements can lower the risk of developing AMD. A study conducted by the National Eye Institute found that taking a high-dose supplement of antioxidants significantly reduced the risk of advanced AMD. The supplement included 500 mg of zinc, 400 IU of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta-carotene, 80 mg of zinc as zinc oxide, and 2 mg of copper as cupric oxide. Other experts recommend additional supplements, including omega-3 oil, curcumin, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium, Ginkgo biloba, zinc, and vitamin B12. As for Dench, she has no plans to let the vision-robbing disease keep her from doing what she loves, and she has no plans to retire. "The condition is something that thousands and thousands of people all over the world are having to contend with," she told Reuters. "It's something that I have learnt to cope with and adapt to — and it will not lead to blindness."