7 Things You Can Do to Prevent Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the #1 cause of blindness in the US, and yet its causes are still relatively unknown, and treatment is extremely limited.

With such a vague understanding of a disease that affects over 10 million Americans, it’s enough to make you want to know, just what the heck is macular degeneration, and what can I do to make sure I NEVER get it?

What is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is a disease that causes permanent vision loss in the center of your line of sight. As the disease sets in, your retina begins to deteriorate right at the center, causing you to have a blind spot in your vision that can gradually get worse as time goes on.

This can create difficulty with everything from reading to driving a car, and as the condition worsens, can actually render you legally blind, with only peripheral vision remaining, making everyday life incredibly challenging.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

It’s a scary thought, a disease suddenly setting in that can claim your sight, so you have to wonder, what the heck causes macular degeneration (and how can I make sure this NEVER happens to me)?

Unfortunately, the answers just aren’t clear.

First, there are actually two types of macular degeneration, coined “dry” and “wet”, with the majority of cases being diagnosed as dry. There is also a third type, Stargardt’s Disease, which though extremely rare, is all the more troubling because it affects people between six and 20 years old.

Macular degeneration most often occurs in aging patients, though there is no clear cause as to what sparks the onset of the disease. It appears that smoking can significantly increase the risks of contracting macular degeneration, in addition to a genetic history of the disease. Caucasians are also significantly more likely to suffer from macular degeneration than Hispanics and African-Americans.

Beyond causes you don’t have much control over (aside from smoking, of course), there are a few other things that are believed to be linked to macular degeneration:

Poor diet
Not enough exercise
UV and blue light exposure
Some medications

Is There a Treatment for Macular Degeneration?

Unfortunately, there is currently no known cure for macular degeneration — once the symptoms begin, there’s no stopping it, only attempts at slowing it down.

Macular degeneration actually begins without any noticeable loss of vision, so it’s important to get your eyes checked regularly to catch it before it becomes dangerous. If you’re not looking for a blind spot, it’s not always the easiest thing to catch.

However, there are some things you can do after the onset of the disease to slow its progression:

Aside from chemical and photo therapies your doctor can offer, the only way to stunt the progression of macular degeneration is to simply take good care of yourself, and make it easy for your eyes to detoxify themselves.

How Can You Prevent Macular Degeneration?

With a few studies linking certain types of lifestyles and eating habits to lower rates of macular degeneration, scientists are beginning to uncover some tactics that may give those with genetic predispositions to this condition hope at preventing it.

Here are a few things to work into your routine to prevent macular degeneration:

Don’t smoke (because come on man, eyesight? It’s pretty amazing).
Eat a balanced diet, with plenty of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruits.
Wear computer glasses to block blue light when you’re on your phone or computer. Blue light is believed to cause everything from macular degeneration to migraines, and we’re exposed to it through the screens in our electronic devices in exceedingly high amounts. Wear your glasses, and ensure you’re not getting too much exposure. You can get some here. Our computer glasses are rated to block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB light, and they even block blue light!
Add a supplement or multivitamin into the mix. It’s extremely common to have nutritional deficits with even a reasonably healthy modern diet, so talk to your doctor about which daily multivitamin is right for you.
Eat more fish. Some studies seem to indicate that regularly eating fish can prevent the onset of macular degeneration, even in aging men and women.
Protect your eyes from the sun to avoid long-term damage. Great sunglasses that actually block UV rays are critical in keeping your eyes healthy — check out our polarized sunglasses here. Ultraviolet radiation is in natural sunlight, with a wavelength range of 400 nm to 100 nm. Our UV 400 rated sunglasses block it all, and we highly recommend them if you have a family history or multiple risk factors for macular degeneration.
Talk to your doctor about risks and medications. If you have a family history of macular degeneration, bring it up to your doctor to ensure that none of the medications you’re on are putting you at greater risk.

Ready to start protecting your eyes? Check out our computer glasses and sunglasses to ensure UV and blue light don’t become causes for YOU.