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Excess Body Fat May Elevate Risk of Vision Problems
January 2006 - Researchers from Harvard have uncovered what seems at first to be an unlikely link: excess body fat may elevate one's risk for age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
In a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, individuals with early-stage AMD and excess body fat, especially around the waist, were at greater risk for progressing to advanced forms of AMD and vision problems.
More than 50% of all blindness in caucasian Americans is caused by AMD and it is responsible for 45 percent of visual disability in the general population. It is characterized by a gradual loss of central vision and researchers have long sought to identify dietary and lifestyle factors that can prevent the condition.
Previously known modifiable risk factors for AMD include low fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and exposure to ultraviolet light. The new link to obesity adds another modifiable risk factor to this list.
In addition to maintaining a healthy weight level, regular visits to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) are the best way to maintain eye health. Regular eye exams can not only provide early detection AMD, they can help prevent vision problems caused by glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases. To find an eye doctor in your area, use the Check Yearly Doctor Locator to the left.