AMD – 50% of people questioned were in the dark…
Have you ever heard of AMD? A poll of 4000 people carried out by the College of Optometrists found that half of the people questioned had never heard of it, despite the fact that over 500,000 people suffer from it in the UK.
AMD, or age-related macular degeneration, is a condition that most often affects the eye-sight of people over 40. As its name suggests, it is a degenerative condition which destroys the cells of the macula in the retina. Sufferers complain of a black spot appearing in their vision, which gradually increases in size.
The number of sufferers in the UK is expected to rise by 25% over the next ten years, mostly due to our longer life spans, and yet there are steps we can take to reduce the risk of developing this disease.
This poll found that a high proportion of smokers were unaware that their habit could significantly increase their chances of developing AMD, and 50% of those questioned did not know the important role that diet can play in maintaining healthy eyes.
Research by doctors from Harvard Medical School has found that one or two portions of fish per week can help prevent the appearance of this black spot. This is being attributed to the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish like tinned tuna and salmon.
Whilst longer life expectancies will mean that we see increases in many health problems in the coming years, this poll and the findings of this research serve as a reminder of the importance of a healthy and balanced diet in the prevention of illness.