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An important elder care consideration is vision, or declining vision as the case may be. Here are tips for preventing macular degeneration in the elderly.
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As an elder care consideration, staying in good general health as a senior is important. The elderly can be more susceptible to disease and health problems than younger people.
An especially debilitating disease is age-related macular degeneration, often called AMD or ARMD. It’s the leading cause of vision and blindness among Americans ages 65 or older.
Because people in this group are an increasingly larger percentage of the general population, vision loss from AMD is a growing problem.
AMD is degeneration of the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for the sharp, central vision needed to read or drive. About 1.75 million U.S. residents have AMD with associated vision loss, with that number expected to grow to almost 3 million by 2020.
However, there are things you can do to help prevent the disease before it’s too late. According to All About Vision, here are 11 steps to help prevent macular degeneration:
1. Don’t smoke.2. Eat plenty of dark, leafy green vegetables, such as raw spinach.3. Take a multivitamin supplement, such as Centrum Silver, unless your doctor advises otherwise.4. If you already have AMD, ask your doctor about one of the AREDS formulations.5. Eat fish or take a fish oil supplement.6. Exercise regularly, and stay at a healthy weight.
7. Eat fruit and nuts daily.8. Reduce refined carbohydrates.9. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Regular exercise and weight control can help manage these.10. Wear appropriate sunglasses outdoors to block UV rays that may cause eye damage.11. Have regular eye exams.
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