AMD is one of the most frequent eye condition and a leading cause of vision loss among people of age 50 and older. It causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the midpoint of the retina. The macula is also the part of the eye which is essential for sharp vision, which lets us visualize our surroundings in front of us.

In many people, AMD advances so slowly that vision loss does not occur for a long time. In others, the disease progresses faster and can result in a loss of vision in either one or both eyes. As AMD progresses, a fuzzy area near the center part of vision can be actually a common symptom. With time, the blurred or fuzzy area may grow larger or the sufferer may develop blank spots on their central vision. Objects may also not appear as clear they used to before.

Here are some symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration:

Dry macular degeneration symptoms usually develop gradually and without any signs of pain. Some common symptoms pointing towards AMD may be:

• The requirement for brighter lighting while reading or doing work

• Decreased central eyesight in either one or both eyes

• Visual distortions, such as direct lines appearing bent

• Difficulty recognizing faces

• Higher difficulty adapting to low light levels, such as when entering a dimly lit restaurant

• Decreased intensity or brightness of colors

• Increased blurriness of printed words

Dry AMD normally affects both eyes. If only one eye is affected, you may not notice any changes in your vision as your good eye may compensate for the visually impaired eye. And the illness does not affect side (peripheral) vision, therefore it rarely causes total blindness.

However, dry macular degeneration is one of two forms of AMD. It can advance to wet (neovascular) macular degeneration, which is distinguished by blood vessels that grow under the retina and leak. The dry type is much more prevalent, but it usually grows slowly. The wet type is much more likely to make a relatively sudden shift in vision resulting in serious vision loss.

How to Prevent AMD with Alternative Methods

It is necessary to have regular eye exams to determine early signs of macular degeneration. These steps may help \lower the risk of developing dry macular degeneration:

• Maintain healthy body weight and exercise regularly. If you need to get rid of excess weight, reduce the number of calories you consume and increase the level of exercises.

• Manage your other health conditions: if you have cardiovascular disease or higher blood pressure, take your medication and follow your physician’s guidelines for controlling the status.

• Select a diet rich with veggies and fruits. Select a wholesome diet that’s full of many different fruits and vegetables. These foods contain antioxidant vitamins that lessen your risk of developing macular degeneration.

• Add fish to your diet. Omega 3 fatty acids, which can be found in fish, may lessen the risk of macular degeneration. Nuts, such as walnuts, also contain omega3 fatty acids.

• Don’t smoke. Smokers may develop macular degeneration. Therefore, people at risk must ask their doctor for help to quit smoking.