Eating fish like mackerel and salmon which are abundant in Omega-3 fatty acids can help to slow down the effects of early and late stage macular degeneration, according to a 2008 study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Age-related macular degeneration is a chronic irreversible medical condition that can result in the loss of vision due to damage to the macula, also known as the central part of the retina.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs in ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ forms. In dry AMD─the most pervasive form─the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, blurring central vision in the affected eye.
The exact cause of dry AMD is unknown, but the condition develops as the eye ages. In the ‘wet’ form, abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye leads to the leaking of blood and proteins into the sensitive cells , also called photoreceptors in the macula, damaging them and causing vision loss. The wet form is the condition in its advanced stage.
The study found that 25% less people progress to these two forms of AMD if their diet was rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Combined with supplemental antioxidant vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and zinc, people already with advanced AMD were found to be up to 50% less at risk of disease progression!