MediPharm: Conditions: Eye Health

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As you age, so do your eyes. Vision problems usually creep up slowly. Blindness and low vision can lead to loss of independence and reduced quality of life. As our population lives longer, eye disease will be an even greater concern. Diabetic patients have a 25-fold increase in the risk of blindness as compared to non-diabetic patients.

Age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy are the most common eye diseases. In Malaysia, cataract is the leading cause of blindness followed by retinal diseases.

Cataract

Prevention

You can take steps to help slow or prevent the development of cataracts:

Don't smoke. Smoking produces free radicals, increasing your risk of cataracts.
Eat a balanced diet. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet light may contribute to the development of cataracts. Whenever possible, wear sunglasses when you are outdoors.
Take care of other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or other medical conditions.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is a chronic eye disease that occurs when tissue in the macula, the part of your retina that is responsible for central vision, deteriorates. Degeneration of the macula causes blurred central vision or a blind spot in the center of your visual field.

Prevention

The following measures may help prevent or delay the progression of macular degeneration:

Eat foods containing antioxidants. A nutritionally balanced diet with plenty of leafy greens, fruits and other vegetables are important to promote good retinal health. People at high risk of the advanced stages of macular degeneration may be able to lower that risk with a dietary supplement of antioxidants (e.g. vitamins A, C and E), zinc and copper.
Take supplements. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that a daily supplement of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene (often as vitamin A), zinc and copper reduced the risk of progressing to moderate or severe vision loss by up to 25%. For people with moderate to advanced macular degeneration, the findings from AREDS indicate that taking high doses of zinc, beta carotene, and vitamins C and E is effective in reducing the risk of further vision loss.
Eat fish. Studies showed that regular consumption of fish and the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils may reduce the risk of macular degeneration.

Other measures include wearing sunglasses that block out harmful ultraviolet light, stop smoking, managing your other diseases by following your doctor's instructions for controlling the condition, and having regular eye exams.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases, whereby the common feature is damage to the optic nerve, usually accompanied by an abnormally high pressure inside your eyeball. The optic nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers at the back of your eye. Blind spots develop in your visual field when the optic nerve deteriorates, usually starting with your peripheral (side) vision. If left untreated, glaucoma may lead to blindness in both eyes.

Prevention

Vitamins A, C, and E, zinc and copper are especially important to your eye health. Drink fluids in small amounts over the course of a day. Limiting caffeine to low or moderate levels may be helpful.

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