AMD
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
AMD is a progressive eye condition that affects as many as 15 million Americans.
This disease attacks the macula of the eye, where the sharpest central vision occurs.
Although it rarely results in complete blindness, it robs a person suffering from
AMD all but the outermost peripheral vision, leaving only dim images or black holes
at the center of vision.
As the years pass, the eye becomes more damaged from its constant interaction with
light. Rod and cone photoreceptors that give a person optimal visual acuity and
perceive color and light, start to die out and are not replaced. These rods and
cones reside in the macula – the smallest, but very important, part of the
eye that helps us to focus on the fine details that are seen directly in front of
the eye.
Two antioxidants accumulate in the macula to help filter out damaging blue light
and sunlight – zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan'-thin) and lutein (lu-teen). These carotenoids
protect the macula and strengthen it. As long as the appropriate levels of these
substances are in the macula, the chances of developing AMD will be slim.
AMD tends to affect people over the age of 55. Smoking, high blood pressure and
continued exposure to damaging light can also contribute to this eye disease.
A good way to maintain your current eye health is by adding zeaxanthin and lutein
to your everyday diet. Foods like kale, spinach, corn and broccoli contain these
antioxidants needed to protect the macula. Since many people’s dietary intake
of these substances decrease as they age, it is important that there are other means
of providing zeaxanthin and lutein to the body. Dietary supplements with naturally
pure zeaxanthin and lutein have proven to provide the necessary amount of these
substances.
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