Fatty Diets Tied to Vision Loss in Seniors

A study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology suggests diets high in fat and red meat could contribute to macular degeneration in senior Americans, reports WebMD . The researchers looked at nearly 1,300 people, most of whom did not have macular degeneration. There were 117 subjects with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and 27 with late AMD. All participants completed surveys about their diets twice during the 18-year study, and those who followed a more Western diet were more likely to develop late-stage AMD. Red and processed meats, fats like margarine and butter, high-fat dairy, and fried foods were associated with a higher AMD risk. "Diet is one way you might be able to modify your risk of vision loss from age-related macular degeneration," especially for those with a family history of the disease, said University at Buffalo Professor Amy Millen. She and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai's Avnish Deobhakta concurred that inflammation triggered by a less healthy diet and stress on the cells in the eyes likely underpin the elevated risk of AMD. Millen and Deobhakta also noted a diet that features vegetables, fruits, and fatty fish contains important nutrients for eye health.