The food you eat may fend off age-related macular degeneration(AMD)

Close to the center of your retina, at the back of your eye, is a small area known as the macula. The macula gives you sharp, central vision to do things like see straight ahead of you, and recognize people's faces. 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss among people aged 50 and older. AMD affects about 10 million Americans. Age, smoking, family history, and a poor diet are major risk factors for AMD.

The most common type of AMD is dry AMD and there’s no effective treatment and no way to delay its progress before it impairs vision. However, there are supplements to slow down the damage to the retina.

Previous studies have found that a high glycemic diet is associated with AMD onset and progress. Carbohydrates with a high glycemic load, such as white bread, can be quickly digested and so cause spikes in blood sugar. Carbohydrates with a low glycemic load, such as whole-grain bread, take longer to digest, and therefore are better.  A heart-healthy diet of fruits and vegetables and fish, high in omega-3 fatty acids is generally recommended for good overall eye health. The findings imply that if we optimize nutrition, it may prevent the progression of AMD.

Make sure to get your eyes checked once a year, particularly if you are over the age of 50, to make sure you have the best eye health you can as you grow older.

The U.S. National Eye Institute has more on age-related macular degeneration.