Poor Diet Linked to Vision Loss Among Elderly

A poor diet is linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. Researchers compared dietary intake of various foods to changes in retinal AMD lesions over an 18-year period. Those who followed diets high in red and processed meat, fried foods, and high-fat dairy products had a threefold increased incidence rate for late AMD when compared to those who followed healthier diets. These results suggest Western diets high in meat and dairy may be risk factors for AMD.