Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diet

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in Australia.   The macula is the area located at the centre of the retina and is responsible for detailed, fine central vision.
  
  
• The causes of AMD are unknown but many risk factors have been hypothesised, including smoking, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, high plasma cholesterol and bodyweight.  
  
  
• Many dietary and lifestyle factors are likely to contribute to the onset and progression of AMD.   There is currently insufficient evidence that specific dietary factors are linked to increased risk of AMD development.
  
  
• There is more information on this issue on the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists’ website at http://www.ranzco.edu/news/news.php?news_id=185&PHPSESSID=7a2ad6e3de68427622d0f87595378fcb .

3 December 2004