uhealth.org
MADISON, Wis. – You can improve your chances of avoiding eye problems as you age in three ways: eat well, avoid smoking and protect your eyes from sunlight.
Three studies by University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health researchers provide the evidence.
The first study concluded that women who eat foods rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals may have a lower risk of developing a common type of cataract. Cataracts, which increase with age, are the most important cause of blindness in the world.
Healthy lifestyles may also help prevent early-stage, age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ), according to another UW study. By changing modifiable risk factors, such as stopping smoking or raising good cholesterol levels, people can lower the risk of AMD.
A third study found that the use of medications that increase sensitivity to the sun – combined with exposure to sunlight – appears to be associated with the risk of age-related cataracts.
The studies were published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
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