Taking good care of
your eyesight
Dr Chris Steele and
Professor Ian
Sight, like most of the senses, is something we vision is affected, meaning most sufferers will
Grierson talk to Kelly
tend to take for granted, and only begin to have enough side (or peripheral) vision to get
worry about when we experience change or around and keep their independence. But as
Rose Bradford about
discomfort, or when a routine test throws any loss of vision can be worrying and
up a query. upsetting, prevention is always better than
the importance of
Likewise, as we get older, we begin to expect cure, and being aware of your eye health
publicising age-
some deterioration in our vision, and as a result, and developing good eye-care practices is a
do not always recognise the warning signs worthwhile habit to get into.
related macular
or early indicators that all may not be well. With some family background of eye
However, some eye conditions are, ultimately, problems, Dr Chris Steele, resident GP on
degeneration and
more serious than just normal, age-related ITV’s This Morning show, is acutely aware
vision impairment. of the importance of maintaining eye health
what it can mean for
One of these is age-related macular and attending regular sight checks. Dr Chris
degeneration (AMD), an eye disease which is is keen to raise awareness of AMD and other
people with diabetes.
one of the major causes of loss of sight in the degenerative eye disorders – many of which
over 50s, and which is thought to affect over can be affected by diet, lifestyle and existing
3 million people in the UK. With AMD, the medical conditions. his diet to increase his consumption of foods
macula, which sits in the centre of the retina, ‘I feel I have a slightly increased risk of rich in omega-3, and also to up his intake of
starts to deteriorate, affecting the ability to AMD,’ says Dr Chris. ‘My aunt has recently lutein and zeaxanthin, two important pigments
see fine details and colour. The exact causes of been diagnosed with it, and my 83-year-old which are found in green leafy vegetables, and
AMD are not known, but certain risk factors mum has cataracts, so this makes me much which act as antioxidants in the eye.
have been identified, such as age, gender more aware of eye care generally, and the need ‘I try to eat a healthy diet, rich in greens and
(women are more at risk), family history of the to be regularly screened.’ deeply coloured fruit and vegetables, such as
disease, exposure to sunlight, smoking and diet. Since his aunt’s diagnosis with AMD, Chris red and orange peppers and dark green leafy
The RNIB says that AMD almost never leads has been taking more of an interest in preserving kale, for the lutein and zeaxanthin content,’ he
to total blindness, because only the central and safeguarding his sight, including adapting says. ‘Essential fatty acids are also important iStock
52 Sweet Magazine
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