Preventing macular degeneration and loss of vision with age

By feeding mainly and lifestyle too, you can maintain good vision with age.

Macular degeneration is a deterioration of vision that comes with age, often after 50. Not everyone suffers equally effects.
It results from physically damages in the center of the retina, the macula.

But we must not confuse this disease with other phenomena of decreased vision, which inevitably occur with age.

If it is more difficult for you to read small letters, this is a form of presbyopia coming from the lack of elasticity of the lens, the natural lens of the human eye behind the iris.

If you experience fewer contrasts and if you are easily dazzled, it is a cataract. The lens becomes opaque. This concerns especially the elderly.

If the visual field is reduced, it is glaucoma, due to hypertension inside the eye. This is something that oculists test at each visit and it can be treated.

If a black spot appears in the center of the eye it is AMD (Age-related macular degeneration). In its most severe form it is manifested by a reduced field of vision, otherwise just eyesight and vision may be distorted.

AMD and its prevention

Some factors may aggravate this phenomenon, in addition to aging and heredity: smoking, hypertension, exposure to the sun without good sunglasses, obesity.

In addition, and we did not know that until recently, aspirin when consumed regularly, is also a factor favoring AMD. A study conducted in 2012 reveal a strong correlation. It must therefore be replaced by paracetamol if you can, or offset by a proper diet.

Actually there are foods that help to fight this harm. Pumpkin contain two molecules, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are concentrated in the retina and create a filter against solar radiation and thus protects the eyes of its destructive effects including AMD.
These molecules are also found in egg yolk, khaki, and yellow or orange vegetables like corn, carrots. Yellow pepper is also a good source of zeaxanthin in contrast to red (which contains a lot of beta-carotene) and green.
Orange also contains it but in smaller quantities. Lettuce brings as much than spinach because eaten raw while the latter is cooked and zeaxanthin degrades in cooking.

Other vitamins that help fight AMD are vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, and a mineral, zinc. We find vitamin C in fruits, vitamin E in whole foods, the latest in carrots and pumpkin. Seafood bring in zinc.

Vitamin A is also called Retinol and it is not a coincidence. It is indeed essential to maintain good vision regardless of age. Deficiency can cause blindness and other pains. We find vitamin A in fish liver oil (not to be regularly consumed), and liver or egg yolk. We also have a contribution in carrots, yellow fruits, sorrel. So more or less the same foods as those that prevent AMD.