WHEN the macula, the central area of vision found on the retina of the eye, loses its light-sensing cells, this can result in an inability to read, drive, see fine details or recognise faces. This is known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and affects those aged 60 and above. Unlike ultraviolet (UV) light, blue light is visible. Blue...

Ocular Surgery News reports that results of four studies suggest that ophthalmologists and cardiologists should consider common risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cardiovascular disease. Cross-disciplinary awareness of the shared risk factors between cardiovascular disease and AMD is important in treating patients with...

A new study reveals part of the magic behind a diet rich in antioxidants. The study shows how artichokes, blueberries and pecans can hold age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at bay. Researchers discovered a link between two processes in the retina that, in combination, contribute to AMD. They found antioxidants disrupt the link and extend...

Eating oily fish once a week may reduce age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. A team of researchers across seven European countries and co-ordinated by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine sought to investigate the association between fish intake and...

It was in 1929 that the cartoon 'Popeye' was first screened displaying a sailor-man who consumed spinach by the tin-full, and got instant and spectacular muscle boosts from it. However, the idea that spinach contains enormous amounts of iron, good for building healthy blood and a strong body, is ill-founded. Interestingly, it was due to the...

Q: Does leaving a watermelon at room temperature allow it to ripen better? Or once it is harvested, does it cease ripening, so we might as well refrigerate it to have it cold as soon as possible? A: Watermelon is pretty good for you. It has a lot of lycopene and beta-carotene. And some stuff kind of like Viagra, although not quite as...

It's blueberry season, a time for filling pails and pie shells. From now until the first week in August, home cooks can visit farms in just about every county of Maryland and load their buckets with blueberries for about $2 a pound. Or, if you are Carol Kressen of Ellicott City, you can step into your yard, where a half-dozen blueberry bushes...

Researchers failed to find an association between alcohol consumption and AMD in a large European population-based study. Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence suggests that AMD is associated with vascular disease and points to an possible protective effect of moderate...

A large prospective study of dietary habits and health status does not find an association between lutein/zeaxanthin intake and early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study consisted of the prospective follow-up of 71,494 women and 41,564 men aged 50 years and older. Diet was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. During up...

Eating fish and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids is associated with reduced risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to the results of a study reported in the June issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. Intake of dietary omega-3 fatty acids and fish, the main dietary source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, has been...