Wear sunglasses to the farmer’s market — that’s my take on what to do with the results of a new European study demonstrating that the combination of low plasma levels of antioxidants (found in fruits and vegetables) and blue light exposure from the sun is associated with increased risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in people 60 and older.

Of course we already knew that direct sunlight is bad for the eyes — while some ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the eye’s lens, blue light can penetrate and damage the retina. Scientists also were already aware that certain antioxidants (vitamins C and E, along with the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, and zinc) can protect the retina against the harmful effects of blue light. What’s news here is how they appear to work together.

The European Eye (EUREYE) Study sought to examine the association of sunlight exposure and antioxidant level with wet (neovascular) AMD. A total of 4,753 participants aged 65 years or older from various regions in Europe answered questions about their adult lifetime sunlight exposure… underwent fundus photography (photographs taken of their retinas)… and gave blood for antioxidant analysis. The researchers estimated the participants’ adult lifetime blue light exposure by combining the questionnaire data with meteorological data.

The researchers found significant associations between blue light exposure in the presence of low levels of zeaxanthin, vitamin E and vitamin C that appears to lead to substantial increased risk of developing AMD. The study appeared in the October 2008 issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

AMD PREVENTION

I asked Allen Taylor, PhD, director of the Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research at Tufts University in Massachusetts, what we can do to protect ourselves from AMD. He explained to me that the risk factors for the disease include advanced age, a family history of the disease and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, obesity and cigarette smoking.

While an advanced age and a family history of the disease cannot be changed, there are many things you can do to prevent AMD or slow its progression. These include:

  • Practice healthy lifestyle habits — don’t smoke, maintain normal blood pressure, watch your weight and exercise.

 

  • Eat a well-balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables rich in nutrients known to protect against AMD — vitamins C (found in citrus fruits) and E (found in whole grains and wheat germ)… lutein (found in dark, leafy green vegetables)… zeaxanthin (found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables)… and zinc (dairy products, meat, whole grains). If your eating habits aren’t what they ought to be, Dr. Taylor advised taking an antioxidant supplement that contains the recommended dietary intake levels of these nutrients.

 

  • Eat foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids (salmon and sardines), which are also associated with a reduced risk of AMD.

 

  • Limit intake of readily digested carbohydrates, especially those that are high on the glycemic index, since these may increase the risk of developing AMD. Examples of foods to avoid include those containing high fructose corn sweeteners, as well as white breads and candy and soda, which contain sugar.

 

  • Protect your eyes from exposure to direct sunlight by wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when you are outside, even on overcast days.