Degeneration (ARMD)
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- What is ARMD?
- Symptoms of ARMD
- Causes of ARMD
- Prevention of ARMD
- Risk factors for ARMD
- Complications of ARMD
- When to see a doctor about ARMD
- Diagnosis of ARMD
- Conventional treatment of ARMD
- Alternative/complementary treatment of ARMD
- Living with ARMD
- Caring for someone with ARMD
Risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)
Research shows that there are some known risk factors associated with the development of age related macular degeneration (ARMD).
Some of these risk factors are unpreventable:
- Age - as people get older the macular may be more likely to get damaged or degenerate in some way
- Certain eye colours - people with certain eye colours are at a greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. The eye colours most at risk: blue, green and hazel
- Gender - many more women than men seem to develop age-related macular degeneration, especially women who are pre- and post-menopausal
- Genetics - age-related macular degeneration can be inherited by a specific gene and passed though families
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Some of these risk factors may be entirely preventable:
- High blood pressure - the reasons most people have high blood pressure is due to poor diet (improper nutrition due to eating too much processed and take-away food that is high in saturated fat and sugar) and lack of exercise, so it can be almost entirely prevented. High blood pressure is a known risk factor for age-related macular degeneration because it is known that high pressure in the eye can cause damage to the retina and macular
- Nutrition - studies have shown that deficiencies of certain important nutrients (especially the antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin A and betacarotene) may be a major factor in the development of age-related macular degeneration because these nutrients actually exist in the eye in the retina and macular and dietary intake needs to be adequate to ensure the proper health of the eye
- Obesity - studies have shown that being obese can lead to age-related macular degeneration progressing to a more severe level much more quickly
- Smoking - several studies have shown that smoking is implicated in the development of age-related macular degeneration and in fact, smokers seem to be at a higher risk for developing age-related macular degeneration than non-smokers due to the way that smoking damages the blood vessels and depletes the body of many antioxidants, especially vitamin C
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< 4: prevention 6: complications > Last reviewed: 14 September 2007 || Last updated: 15 March 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
