02/02/2026
By the age of 75, roughly 1 in 3 people living in the United States will have some form of age-related macular degeneration, and about 1 in 4 of those will have a vision-threatening, late-stage form of AMD. Since February is AMD & Low Vision Awareness Month, we're sharing tips and resources for early detection, risk reduction, and intervention.
Although the causes of AMD are complex, with some being non-controllable (like age, genetics, or light-colored irises), other risk factors can be managed through lifestyle changes:
❌Quitting smoking (since smoking doubles the risk of AMD)
🥗Improving diet to include dark leafy greens (kale, spinach), fatty fish (salmon, sardines), and colorful fruits/vegetables
🏃♀️ Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in regular aerobic exercise which can reduce the risk of developing wet AMD by up to 70%
🕶 Protecting the eyes from harmful sun exposure
To read more about risks, symptoms, and prevention strategies, check out this helpful resource: https://www.macular.org/amdawarenessmonth
You can also find a link there to an award-winning documentary, Losing Sight, Finding Hope: Living with Macular Degeneration, which offers information and hope to people at all stages of macular degeneration.
