September is National Healthy Aging® Month — an end-of-summer occasion for seniors to revisit and refresh their personal health goals. While many may assess their diet and exercise regimens, it’s important to take a closer look at an aspect of senior health that is becoming increasingly problematic: age-related macular degeneration.
Defining the Disease
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is an incurable eye disease that affects more than 10 million people in the U.S. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation reports that it is the leading cause of vision loss and afflicts more Americans than glaucoma and cataracts combined.
The disease has three main stages — all of which center around the macula, the middle portion of the retina in the back of the eye. As the macula deteriorates, those dealing with the disease begin to lose their central vision function. Since the macula controls the eyeball’s ability to see colors, faces and fine details, everyday activities like reading and driving may eventually become impossible.
Throughout the first two stages of AMD, most patients will not experience any vision loss, making the disease tougher to spot in a basic eye exam. Therefore, even if you are not currently experiencing any vision problems, it is still important to request a comprehensive eye exam to check for inward symptoms of AMD. This is especially true if you have one or more of the risk factors associated with the disease.
Understanding your risk
There is still no conclusive ruling on the specific causes of AMD. Experts have identified certain genetic and environmental risk factors, however, to look out for.
The most notable risk factor for AMD is age. Adults over 55 years old are at the highest risk of being diagnosed with AMD, and this risk increases as individuals get older. Due to their generally longer lifespan, females are more likely than males to be impaired with AMD.
Other uncontrollable risk factors include your eye color and your genetic history. Light-colored irises and cases of AMD in your family can both add to your likelihood of being afflicted with the condition.
Preventing AMD
While you may not have control over the aforementioned risk factors, there are steps you can take to help prevent the disease.
Smoking is a universally acknowledged risk factor for AMD that you can mitigate. Quitting the unhealthy habit can lessen the progression of the disease or help to prevent it altogether.
In addition, being overweight and having uncontrolled high blood pressure can all contribute to your chances of receiving an AMD diagnosis. Living a healthy, active lifestyle is a simple way to put yourself on the path to prevention.
Another especially relevant risk factor that may affect Floridians is UV exposure. Although the link between UV light exposure and AMD is controversial, long-term exposure to sunlight without eye protection may increase your risk of developing the condition. It’s always good practice to use sunglasses that offer complete UV protection.
The future of AMD is unclear as doctors and scientists work to find causes and cures. Naturally, as the substantial population of baby boomers enters seniority, cases of the disease are expected to rise dramatically.
This month, as you take stock of your physical health, don’t overlook your eyes. Your eyesight is paramount to your physical well-being, so remember to incorporate proactive healthy decisions for your vision today.
Dr. McGregor N. Lott is an ophthalmologist with Florida Eye Specialists. He is fellowship-trained in medical retina and has been practicing ophthalmology for nearly 15 years. For more information, visit FloridaEyeSpecialists.com.
