February is Macular Degeneration Awareness Month

Did you know that February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month?

Well, do you have someone you know who has Macular Degeneration?

This vision robbing disease affects more than 10 million Americans.  This is more than cataracts and glaucoma combined!  

AMD is the leading cause of severe and irreversible vision loss in people over the age of 60.  It affects the center part of our retina - this is the area of our eye that gives us our ability to see details in the straight ahead position.

In moderate to advanced AMD, our ability to read, recognize faces or even see to pour a cup of hot water is compromised.  According to the National Institue of Health, the rates of macular degeneration is expected to double by 2050.

Now is the time to impact the future of our eyes!  The causes of AMD are complex and some of the predisposing risk factors such as family history we cannot impact.  However their are things that we can all do today to impact our tomorrow!

How we can decrease our risk:

Stop smoking

Weight control, especially around the abdomenal area

Manage our cardiovasular diseaseManage our blood pressure

Properly protect ourselves from long term sun exposure to our eyes

Protect ourselves from blue light (electronic devices)

Eat a diet rich in green leafy vegtables and fruits that are yellow and orange in nature.

Schedule your appointment to meet with one of our team of doctors to find out how you and your loved ones can take action today to protect your precious sight!

Thank you for entrusting us with your eyecare today as well as your vision for tomorrow!

We are here to care for your vision for life!

Sincerely,

Dr. Heidi Pham-Murphy