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There are two
kinds, the dry type and the wet
type: 90 percent of people have the
dry type, in which small, yellow
spots called drusen form underneath
the macula. Scientists are still not
sure what causes dry AMD. Studies
suggest that an area of the retina
becomes diseased, leading to the
slow breakdown of the light-sensing
cells in the macula and a gradual
loss of central vision. Dry macular
degeneration can progress to the
second, more severe type called wet
macular degeneration.
Although only 10
percent of all people with AMD have
the wet type, it accounts for 90
percent of all blindness from the
disease. As dry AMD worsens, new
blood vessels may begin to grow and
cause "wet" AMD. These new blood
vessels tend to be very fragile, and
they often leak blood and fluid
under the macula, which further
deteriorates the macula, causing
rapid and severe vision loss.
Eating lutein-
and zeaxanthin-rich foods or taking
supplements of these carotenoids can
restore macular pigment density,
which declines with age. In fact,
one such study of AMD patients who
were taking high-dose lutein
supplements (4 mg or more per day)
experienced normal levels after a
few months.
An important
case-control study by researchers at
the University of Florida, found
that healthy eating that includes
diets rich in lutein and zeaxanthin
could lower the risk of AMD as much
as 82% compared with those outside
that group. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis
Sci 2001 Jan;42(1)235-40).
The best way to
ensure you are getting Zeaxanthin
and Lutein is to take Ethos Bright
Eyes CAPSULES.
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