new Voice of UMass A podcast episode featuring ophthalmologist Johanna M. Seddon, MD, focuses on the causes and risk factors for macular degeneration, the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in people 65 and older. There is no cure.
“Early stages can occur in 25 to 30 percent of individuals over the age of 75,” says Dr. Seddon, professor of ophthalmology and vision science.
Macular degeneration affects the central part of the retina, called the macula, which allows us to see details in front of our eyes. Risk factors include age, obesity, gender, and smoking. Family history is also a risk factor.
Seddon also details how eating certain foods, such as leafy greens, reduces the risk of disease.
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