Macular degeneration is treated as a serious eye condition, wherein the condition of the small central area of the retina, called the macula, begins deteriorating. As there is no cure available for macular degeneration, eye specialists may help in delaying its progress or severity. The condition should be seen as urgent because macular degeneration could lead to blindness and there may not be an option to prevent it. Making necessary changes in lifestyle could delay its onset or reduce its severity. We shall discuss a few habits that you could develop to keep your eyes healthy in case you have macular degeneration:
- Eat healthy: maintaining a diet consisting of fruits and leafy vegetables, such as spinach, mustard greens, cabbage, and turnip greens are beneficial for people with macular degeneration, or if they are at the risk of developing such a condition.
Vitamins found in fresh fruits like oranges provide nutrients to blood vessels in the eyes. The key to good eye health, in particular, and good health, in general, is to eat a variety of whole, unprocessed foods on a regular basis. It is advisable to avoid junk food, processed items, and beverages that contain high sugar, and snacks that are too salty.
- Quit smoking: every cigarette you smoke endangers your vision. You put yourself at a high risk of increasing the severity of macular degeneration.
Smoking reduces blood supply to the eyes, making them prone to diseases like cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis. Tobacco is something you could regulate, cut down on, or quit completely, and it important to do so for the sake of healthy eyes.
- Exercise: Obesity could put you at a higher risk of developing advanced forms of macular degeneration. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping yourself physically active will not only keep your eyes healthy but will be beneficial for your health in general. Apart from proving to be harmful to people with macular degeneration, obesity has also been linked with age-related cataract, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
- Keep your blood pressure in control: High blood pressure could damage blood vessels in the retina which increases your chances of developing eye problems. If left untreated, high blood pressure may lead to eye diseases, causing irreversible damage to your eyes. Same as smoking, high blood pressure restricts oxygen from reaching your eyes. The best way to reduce your blood pressure is to watch your waistline, limit your salt intake, and eat a well-balanced diet.
- Take multivitamins: Taking vitamins and minerals in the form of supplements can help you obtain all the nutrients that you may need and your diet is unable to provide. However, before taking any sort of supplement, you must ask your ophthalmologist. Different supplements have different purposes. Let your ophthalmologist prescribe you supplements that suit your specific health needs.
- Shield your eyes: Sun exposure is considered to be a risk factor in the case of macular degeneration. Though there is no concrete evidence to support this statement, it is good to keep your eyes protected from UV rays. Wearing a pair of sunglasses with UV protection is advisable whenever you step outdoors.
Looking for eye specialists in Kolkata?
Maintain your eye health by going for regular check-ups. Let the best eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals, one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal, help diagnose your problem and help you with the treatment. Disha offers treatment for diabetic retinopathy, cataract and various other eye conditions. To book an appointment online, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/contact-us.