AMD Could Indicate Heart Attack or Stroke

Did you know that the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can also indicate increased risk of heart attack or stroke? That's the question from Eye Care America's press release. During September’s Save Your Sight Month, the public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is raising awareness about AMD and its potential “window to health.” The damage related to AMD also can indicate risk for heart attack or stroke—as much as 8 to 10 times greater than for someone without this damage. An Australian study noted that among those whose health was followed for a number of years, subjects with AMD had more than double the incidence of heart attack or stroke. So an eye exam eye could help save not only your sight, but also your life, by letting you know of increased risk for other serious health problems. Read more.

Mac D Preventable More Often

FoxNews reported that "a large fraction of elderly people have age-related degenerative changes in their eyes that put them on a path to blindness — but could be preventable — a new study finds. Eye exams given to more than 5,000 elderly Icelanders found that over one in 10 people in their 60s and nearly one in four in their late 70s have an early form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness."