As a baby boomer myself, with a husband who has a strong family history of age related macular degeneration, we are taking steps to prevent this loss of central vision.

Here are the top AMD prevention tips:

1. Wear Sunglasses

Wearing sunglasses is the first and easiest way to protect your eyes and to prevent eye damage due to UV-A and UV B sunrays. The retinal cells are very vulnerable to the damages of oxidization since they are exposed to ultraviolet light. That is why it is so important to protect our eyes with sunglasses that provide 100% UV-A and UV-B protection. The sun's rays not only cause damage to the retina but are a cause of cataracts as well.

2. Exercise

Cardiovascular exercise benefits the body's overall health and increases the efficiency of the circulatory system - which helps with blood flow to the heart, the lungs, and to other parts of the body... like the retina. In macular degeneration there is a problem with getting oxygen rich blood to the macula and removing built up waste. So it is no surprise that researchers from the University of Wisconsin found those with an active lifestyle were 70% less likely to develop macular degeneration than those who did little or no exercise.

3. Diet

What you eat and don't eat is critical to your eye health and especially for your macula and retina. A macular degeneration diet includes:

• Carbohydrates that are low in glycemic index

• Fats that are good for you and in the right ratio

• Proteins that are low in fat and include lots of cold water fish

4. Antioxidants

Antioxidants are key players in the prevention and treatment of macular degeneration. There have been and are several clinical trials evaluating and studying the effects of antioxidants in the prevention of macular degeneration and in the health of the macula. Include antioxidant rich food and/or antioxidant health supplements in your daily routine.

5. Fish Oils

Several studies have shown the correlation between omega 3 fatty acid consumption and the risk of macular degeneration. Increasing the amount of oily fish consumption to just 2 servings per week can reduce the risk of macular degeneration. The two critical types of omega-3s are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Although DHA is found in most tissues throughout the body, the highest concentrations are in:

1. the brain,

2. the nervous system and

3. the retina of the eye.