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Protect Your Eyesight During Save Your Vision Month

March 15, 2017   |   Alliance for Aging Research Team   |   Vision Loss

A research team at The Ohio State University recently conducted a study to find out if stress has any effect on the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). While previous studies have found that AMD is linked to stress, no studies have shown the impact stress can have on the disease.

In addition to stress, prolonged exposure to UV light, high blood pressure, smoking, and a family history of AMD can also lead to the disease.

While it’s still too early to say if stress increases the progression of AMD, it’s always important for older adults to keep their eyes healthy!

Save Your Vision Month is one of the best ways to promote good eye health among older adults. Luckily, we have a number of resources that will help protect your eyesight – from resources on diabetic retinopathy to age-related macular degeneration.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, affecting people in both industrialized and developing countries. The irreversible disease currently affects approximately 126 million people across the globe and has the potential to impact nearly 191 million by 2030.

AMD affects about 11 million older Americans. Though AMD rarely leads to complete blindness, it can lead to legal blindness without proper treatment.

It’s important to know the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options for vision loss – which is why we offer a number of resources that help you become better informed. The Silver Book®: Diabetic Retinopathy offers a great overview about the impact the disease has on global health. More information can be found on The Silver Book®: Diabetic Retinopathy page.

For more information about AMD, visit our health information page and check out this infographic that highlights the impact of AMD.

Check out our “pocket film” above to learn more about age-related macular degeneration, its risk factors, and how to treat the condition.

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