What is Macular Degeneration and is there anyway to prevent it?

Macular degeneration is an age-related disease.

It is characterised by a yellow mark in front of the retina which gradually results in a deterioration in eyesight.

1) It is age-related.

2) Cigarette smoking doubles the chances of developing the condition.

3) A possible cause may be oxidative damage due to free radicals.

The macula is the central area of the retina and is responsible for detailed central vision necessary in e.g. reading writing and recognising faces

In the early stages of the disease, deposits can be seen as pale yellow spots on the retina. This disease is the commonest cause of blindness in developed countries and the third most common worldwide.

There is some evidence that vitamins A, C, E and zinc and also carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin MIGHT reduce the liklihood of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Stopping smoking and eating a healthy diet rich in green vegetables is the most important advice