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Article: Eggs and eyes.
- Article from:
- Bandolier
- Article date:
- January 1, 2007
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Bandolier Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. In the USA 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and nearly six million Americans have suffered some vision loss from AMD. A rapidly aging and longer living population suggests that the prevalence of AMD is likely to triple over the next 25 years as our populations contain increasing numbers of older people.
Age is the biggest risk factor, but diets low in antioxidants low in substances like lutein and zeaxanthin may also contribute to both low serum and retinal levels of these antioxidants (Bandolier 123). Higher serum levels are associated with lower incidence ...