Feb 20 2009
Diet Could Reduce Onset of Eye Disease by 20%
University of Liverpool scientists claim that macular degeneration could be reduced by up to 20% by increasing the amount of fruit, vegetables and nuts in the diet.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness, as individuals gradually lose their central vision due to the failure of cells in the macula (the light sensitive membrane at the center of the retina).
Professor Ian Grierson, Head of Ophthalmology at the University of Liverpool, said: “Poor eating habits have a huge impact on health in general and the health of your eyes is no exception. Eye problems such as AMD, cataract and even glaucoma can all be affected by what we eat. But a relatively minor change in diet – adding a little more fruit into our meals – can make a profound difference and can keep eye diseases like AMD at bay for up to 20% longer.
“There are of course other risk factors related to AMD such as age, light exposure, smoking and being overweight. But if we can improve the kind of food that we eat, we could dramatically reduce the number of people who may suffer from eye diseases in the future.”
Grierson recommends incorporating fruits and nuts as minor additions to what we already eat, such as peaches with ham or ginger with melon. He believes this will help slow down or even prevent the degeneration process by increasing micronutrient, vitamin and antioxidant intake in the diet.
Learn more about food sources for nutrients important to eye health
SOURCE: “Diet Could Reduce Onset Of Eye Disease By 20%”, University of Liverpool (2009, February 18), http://www.liv.ac.uk/news/press_releases/2009/02/Diet-could-reduce-onset-of-eye-disease.htm
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