Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States. It affects more than 10 million people in the U.S. This website is not meant to serve as a source of scientific information about AMD. I have, however, reviewed dozens of scientific journals and have distilled the information to arrive at the ingredients used in these recipes.

Nutritional studies have shown that eating diets high in antioxidant rich foods and Omega 3 delays the progression of AMD. Some of the importance components are antioxidants such as lutein, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, vitamin E, Zinc, vitamin C, and Omega 3.

Good sources of these nutrients are listed below.

Lutein: melon, spinach, kale, guava, blueberries, peas
Beta-carotene: carrots, kale, spinach, yellow peppers
Zeaxanthin: corn, nectarines, papaya, squash, orange, peppers
Vitamin E: whole grains, soybeans, avocados, beans, sunflower seeds, mangoes, eggs, nuts
Zinc: meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, sesame seeds, whole grains
Vitamin C: citrus fruits, green peppers, melons, tomatoes, broccoli, potatoes
Omega 3: Fish (especially: Salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel), flax seed, walnuts, edamame

The importance of supplementing these nutrients has been well studied. The Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) has proven that a daily supplement of lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, and vitamins C & E reduces the risk of developing advanced AMD. The AREDS 2 supplement is available over the counter. At our offices we offer Focus Vitamins AREDS formula to our patients. I, along with 400 of my retina physician colleagues, formed Focus to make a high-quality, reasonably-priced supplement available to our patients. Focus vitamins are available at many retina specialist offices or at www.focusvitamins.com