VEGF Macular Degeneration

Use your diet to help protect yourself
from VEGF macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs most commonly in the dry form of the disease — however, in 10% to 15% of cases AMD starts as, or progress to, the more destructive wet VEGF form that disrupts your field of vision. Your central vision can be destroyed.

VEGF robs sight from more Americans each year than cataracts and glaucoma.

Research has found a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eye, which stimulates fluid leakage (wet) that damages the macular. Treatments to inhibit the VEGF protein try to slow or disrupt the growth of new blood vessels in an attempt to minimize loss of vision.

Eyesight is important to everyone, not only people immediately at risk for macular degeneration.

Lower Your Risk

Information provided by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation suggests that age may not be the inevitable cause of sight loss. Loss of visual acuity might occur in older people because of continued lack of certain nutrients and other bad habits (such as smoking).

Fiber foods high in lutein and zeaxanthin stimulate antioxidant activity that reduces stress (oxidation) in the retina and lens of the eye.

The sooner you choose to eat more healthy fiber foods with the nutrients your eyes need, the healthier your eyes will stay.

Good fiber food sources for zeaxanthin and lutein antioxidants include:

• Leafy greens with dark color like turnip greens and collard greens, kale, and spinach.
• Green vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, and peas.
• Tomatoes, especially when cooked as in tomato sauce.
• Orange peppers have the highest amount of zeaxanthin.

And research from Australia associates consumption of citrus fruit (like oranges and grapefruit) with positive effects on AMD.

People most at risk for AMD:

• Age 60 years or older
• Family history of AMD (abnormal gene)
• Female
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Lack of zinc and vitamins A, C, and E in diet
• Cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack)
• Caucasian (white)