As you age, your body is more prone to things like eye diseases. As one of the most common types of eye diseases, macular degeneration causes progressive loss of vision. By breaking down the light-sensitive tissue in the macula, macular degeneration can cause vision loss that cannot be restored.

One of the biggest factors of macular degeneration is having a genetic history and being of Caucasian descent, are not things you can change. However, there are other factors that can greatly contibute to and increase your chances of getting macular degeneration as well. Read on to learn more.

Smoking

Smoking isn’t good for any part of your body— your eyesight include. In fact, smoking can as much as double your risk of developing macular degeneration. If you are a frequent smoker, now is the time to stop. If you need help quitting, ask your healthcare provider for advice on support groups and nicotine products like gum or patches.

Obesity

Obesity isn’t just bad for your heart’s health, but it can also lead to the development of macular degeneration. Because obesity can cause an increased amount of inflammation throughout your body, it can lead to inflammation in your eyes as well— resulting in macular degeneration. If you are struggling with your weight, ask your healthcare provider about ways in which you can cut down your caloric intake and increase your exercise routine.

Exposure to Sunlight

Although the sun is a great source to get vitamin D, it can also lead to health problems like skin cancer and even eye problems like macular degeneration. Every time you go outside— even in the winter— make sure that you are wearing sunglasses that offer both UVA and UVB protection.

As you can see, there are many contributors to macular degeneration. In order to protect your eyes, make sure that you quit smoking, watch your weight, and wear sunglasses when outside. To learn more about how you can best protect your eyes, contact Dr. Jeffrey Maehara today!