Macular degeneration is a most common cause for loss of vision in people over the age of 65 years. Macular degeneration is caused by the breakdown of the macula which is a dot size part of retina which allows seeing fine details in the environment clearly. When the macula fails to perform its job there is darkness and blurriness in the center of the vision.
There is no cure for macular degeneration; the damage that is already done can not be repaired but medications and techniques are available to avoid further damage to the macular. In macular degeneration only the center vision is largely affected and a person can not perform detailed tasks, however a person can continue doing normal household chores with the help of side vision or using aids such as magnifying glasses. Keep the following points in mind to avoid further damage:
- Avoid direct sunlight as it can cause the retina to strain and may even damage light receptors in the eye. Wear a pair of sunglasses and avoid stepping out between 10am to 3 pm as the UV rays are most intense in this period.
- Eat at least one serving of dark green leafy vegetable daily and includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Dark green leafy vegetables contain numerous nutrients like zinc, magnesium, beta-carotene which helps improve blood flow to the eye.
- You can make some changes at home level like large print playing cards or books, large readable buttons over the remote control, extra large wall clocks and calculators to enjoy the same quality life.
answered by Dr S