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21
THE
FUTURE
ISWORTH
SEEING
New Zealand’s leading cause of blindness is
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which
results in blurring, distortion, and the blacking
out of your central vision. But early action may
help prevent it. The harmful light that causes
AMD can be filtered out with glasses treated with
Crizal® Prevencia™.
Ask us about
Crizal®
Prevencia™
and collect your
FREE lens cloth
Visique O’Hagan Vision Care
School Ln, Waihi - 07 8637019
612 Port Rd, Whangamata - 07 8650007
11 Willoughby St, Paeroa - 07 8628978
186 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha - 07 8848015
There’s a lot to see in your family’s future.
Don’t lose it to AMD.
Protect your eyes for the people you love.
Visique O’Hagan Vision Care
School Ln, Waihi - 07 8637019
t - 8650 7
Willoughby St, Paeroa - 07 862 97
, r - 07 8848015
WHEN U TXT, UR EYES R EXPOSED
TO BLUE-VIOLET LIGHT
PROTECTYOUREYES FORTHE PEOPLEYOULOVE
For Your Health
better
Vision
...and
preventing
macular
degeneration
There are measures you can take to help your eyes function their
best throughout your lifetime, actions that may also help reduce
the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
‘MUNCHING’ YOUR WAY TO BETTER EYESIGHT
Keep your eyes healthier with good nutrition. Two important eye
nutrients that help eyesight and may reduce risk for macular
degeneration and cataracts, are lutein and zeaxanthin – a class of
organic compounds called carotenoids. These yellow pigments, found
in the retina of the eye, specifically the macula, tint it a yellowish colour.
In nature, these two elements appear to absorb excess light to prevent
damage in plants from too much sunlight, especially high-energy blue
light rays. This same ray-absorption quality helps create a barrier in
the macula of the human eye, which keeps rays from reaching the
underlying structures in the retina. This reduces the risk of light-induced
oxidative damage that could lead to macular degeneration.
Formulated supplements specific to eye health often contain both
substances, lutein and zeaxanthin. Or one can get these compounds
naturally by eating a diet rich in colourful fruits and vegetables. A study
in Los Angeles found that people who had higher levels of lutein and
other antioxidants in their blood also had healthier blood vessels,
decreasing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Look for green leafy plants and colourful produce such as peaches,
broccoli, celery, zucchini, mango, orange pepper, kiwi fruit, kale, grapes,
green beans, squash, kumura
and carrots. If this sounds like
too many salads, try juicing for
a concentrated energising jolt.
Egg yolks, spinach, and corn
have high concentrations of
zeaxanthin. Pistachio nuts also
contain lutein. Omega-3 fatty
acids, found in fish and some
nuts, may also reduce the risk
of macular degeneration.
WHAT IS MACULAR DEGENERATION?
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in
people over age 60 (1 in 7 over 50 is affected). It occurs when the small
central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates resulting
in loss of central vision (peripheral vision is not affected).
“The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye and
processes all visual images”, explains Visique optometrist Heather
O’Hagan. “It is responsible for your ability to read, recognise faces, drive
and see colours clearly. Along with what we want to see, comes also
damaging UV light rays. And, the older we are, the longer our eyes have
been subjected to this sort of tissue damage.”
Although age is the number one AMD risk factor, the prime preventable
cause is smoking. The retina has a high rate of oxygen consumption,
and anything affecting oxygen delivery to the retina may damage vision.
BLUE BLOCKING LENSES FOR GLASSES
Early diagnosis of macular degeneration is crucial as loss of vision
cannot be restored once the damage has occurred. Standard eye
exams help detect any problems and your optometrist will advise the
best treatment. “Glasses with CRIZAL UV coated lenses absorb those
damaging UV blue rays thus protecting the eyes from harmful rays and
the risk of AMD”, says Heather. “These rays can also cause skin cancer
so coated lenses also offer protection for the eyelid area.”
Heather reminds us that damaging rays also come from computer
monitors, tablets, and phone screens, often viewed at short distances
for long hours. “The coated lenses offer protection here as well”.
For more info about AMD see