Macular degeneration is a disease that affects people past the age of 50, and among the American population, it is the main cause of vision difficulties and ultimately loss. Research shows that there are genetic factors that make some people more prone to the disease than others. Certain lifestyles can also lead to these negative developments. Fortunately, ongoing research helps us understand the disease better, and today we can mitigate some of the risks, as well as slow down the progression.

Key Takeaways:

• Despite many advances in the treatment processes available to those with macular degeneration, there is no sure way to treat the disease and eliminate it.
• The possibility of developing macular degeneration is much greater if one or both parents has the disease.
• As a complex condition, macular degeneration generally involves a perfect storm of several risk factors converging together.

“We’ve come a long way in our understanding and treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss for people ages 50 or older in the United States. We’ve learned that certain genes and lifestyle factors increase the risk for developing AMD, and discovered treatments that often slow the disease’s progression.”

Read more: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/can-you-avoid-macular-degeneration