Dr. Karen Gehrs, a retina specialist with the Center for Retina and Macular Disease, has co-authored a study published in the April 2011 issue of “Archives of Ophthalmology.”

Dr. Gehrs and several others looked at the relationship of healthy lifestyles to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  The study found that diet, exercise, and smoking did affect the prevalence of AMD. The following conclusion was cited in the abstract of the study.

“Conclusion  Modifying lifestyles might reduce risk for early AMD as much as 3-fold, lowering the risk for advanced AMD in a person’s lifetime and the social and economic costs of AMD to society.”

Dr. Gehrs and the other authors found that the 3 “healthy behaviors;” a healthy diet, regular exercise and not smoking lead to 71% lower odds of developing age-related macular degeneration.

Visit this link to the April 2011 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology to read more.