LIVERPOOL, England—Increasing the amount of fruit, vegetables and nuts in the diet can reduce the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 20%, according to researchers at the University of Liverpool.
AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the United Kingdom and results in a gradual loss of central vision, due to the failure of cells in the light-sensitive membrane at the center of the retina. There is currently no cure for the more common “dry” form of the disease, which is suffered by 90% of AMD patients.
Professor Ian Grierson, head of Ophthalmology at the university, produced a comprehensive cooking guide called “Fruit for Vision,” designed to add fruit and vegetables into everyday meals. The recipes help AMD sufferers slow down the degeneration process by increasing micronutrient, vitamin and antioxidant intake in the diet. Non-sufferers also can use the book to add fruit, nuts and vegetables into each meal to protect against the disease.
“Poor eating habits have a huge impact on health in general and the health of your eyes is no exception,” he said. “Eye problems such as AMD, cataract and even glaucoma can all be affected by what we eat. But a relatively minor change in diet—adding a little more fruit into our meals—can make a profound difference and can keep eye diseases like AMD at bay for up to 20% longer.