Page 18 - Leisure Living Magazine May 2018

Eyes
Continued from page 15
detect microscopic signs of ARMD. If your doc- tor sees signs of problems in the retina they may perform one of these scans.
There are two types of ARMD, wet and dry. 90% of vision loss is caused by wet ARMD. Most treatments for wet ARMD are designed to stop the leaking of blood vessels that cause severe vi- sion loss. During a clinical trial sponsored by the National Eye Institute it appears that the risk of developing ARMD can be reduced when con- suming high levels of antioxidants including lu- tein and zinc. Though not a cure for ARMD it is
possible to help people with ARMD keep their vision.2 This vitamin formula known as AREDS has been found to reduce the conversion of the dry form into the wet form.
There are some things you can do to decrease your odds of losing vision from ARMD. Stop smoking and maintain a healthy weight. Monitor your blood pressure to keep it within a normal range and exercise. Eat a diet high in green leafy vegetables. Lastly, have your eyes evaluated with a dilated eye exam by your Eye Doctor.
1 NEI.NIH.GOV. September 2009.
2 https://web.emmes.com/study/areds/results/ leaflet.pdf
Instructions for using the Amsler Grid
1. Hold approximately 12”-14” in front of the eye
2. Wear your glasses. Use bifocals if you have them.
3. Test one eye at a time.
4. Look at the center dot only.
5. Check for wavy lines or blank areas near the center.
6. Keep your eye on the center dot – do not scan.
7. Do not check more than once daily. 8. Report any changes immediately.
18 |LeisureLiving May 2018
www.LeisureLivingMagazine.com