It’s good that you’re trying to eat an eye-healthy diet, but try to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables that you eat daily, especially dark leafy greens. Avoiding foods that raise your cholesterol level will help, too!

Why? What you eat may help to protect your vision in two ways: First, some nutrients, especially the antioxidants in many vegetables, are known to help protect your macula from damage. Also, improving your diet can lower your risk of—or help you manage—high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar, all of which are linked to AMD.

Now’s the time to change how you shop, cook and eat. For the health of your eyes, you need a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, and light on fast and fried foods, and sugar.

Why? What you put on your plate can help protect your vision in two ways: First, some nutrients, especially the antioxidants in many vegetables, are known to help protect your macula from damage. In fact lutein and zeaxanthin, two nutrients in dark green vegetables like kale and spinach, actually protect the leaves from sun damage, just as they protect your eyes. Also, the right diet can lower your risk of—or help you manage—high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar, all of which are linked to AMD.

It’s not easy to quit smoking, but it’s the most important thing you can do to help reduce your risk of your AMD progressing to a stage where you experience significant vision loss.

Why? Continuing to smoke puts you at much higher risk of losing your vision from macular degeneration. Smoking also may make AMD treatments less effective.

Deciding to quit is an important first step—congratulations! It’s not easy to quit, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for your eyes.

Why? Your risk of losing your vision from AMD is significantly greater if you smoke (even vaping may be an issue), but the risk goes down every day after you quit. Even if you’ve tried to quit before, it’s important to know that you could succeed this time. As a matter of fact, you’ve been learning more each time you’ve tried to quit, which makes it more likely that you’ll be successful this time.

Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take toward protecting your vision—and you’re on your way. Each day that you don’t smoke, your risk of losing your vision from AMD goes down. If you’re tempted to reach for a cigarette, remember that smokers are more likely to become legally blind from macular degeneration. There’s some evidence that vaping may also be an issue for people with AMD.

Why? Smoking affects the macula in a number of ways: The toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke can directly harm the macula; smoking decreases the flow of blood that your eyes need to stay healthy; and it robs your blood of the antioxidants that help protect the macula.

A little exercise is good. More would be better. Try to get at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days a week. Even walking helps. If you have mobility or health issues, there are still ways you can get your heart beating a little faster.

Why? If you need some inspiration, consider this: In one study of people with AMD, the most active participants had a 70% lower risk of developing advanced macular degeneration compared to the least active. Being active was linked to lower blood pressure and less obesity, which are risk factors in AMD. Several other studies show that regular aerobic exercise might slow macular degeneration.

Be sure to check with your doctor before you start or change your exercise program.

The good news is that you can build an exercise habit even if you have mobility or pain issues. Try to get at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days a week—enough to get your heart beating a little faster. Even walking helps. Start with a few minutes and build up.

Why? If you need some inspiration to start moving more, consider this: In one study of people with AMD, participants who walked a lot had a 30% lower risk of developing advanced macular degeneration compared to those who didn’t walk much. Several other studies show that regular physical activity might prevent AMD from getting worse.

Be sure to check with your doctor before you start or a change your exercise program.

Be aware that now you have AMD, you need to be more rigorous in your UV protection than you used to be. That means wearing the right style of frame and using lenses that filter at least 99% of both UVA and UVB rays, as well as taking other steps to shield your eyes year-round.

Why? The sun's rays UV directly affect the macula, damaging the cells. Frames like wraparounds protect your eyes from all sides. This is important even in the winter when the angle of the sun's rays is low.

Your sunglasses are important, no matter how strong the sun is. Check that your sunglasses block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound styles help protect your eyes from all angles. And when the sun is at its brightest, take the extra step of wearing a brimmed hat or cap to shield your eyes.

Why? The ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight can cause damage to your retina, making AMD worse, even in the winter.

Your sunglasses are important, no matter how strong the sun is. Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays from the sun may help you preserve your vision. Check that your sunglasses block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound styles help protect your eyes from all angles. And when the sun is at its brightest, take the extra step of wearing a brimmed hat or cap to shield your eyes.

Why? The ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight can damage your macula and make AMD worse, even in the winter, by corrupting molecules in the macula’s cells and generating damaging free radicals.

It’s important to track vision changes regularly using your Amsler grid or an app that’s designed to do the same job (see Apps). It’s easy, and it may help you spot vision changes even before they can be seen on an eye exam. Make a plan to do a vision check at the same time each week—some people set a reminder on their smartphone or wall calendar. If you notice a change, contact your eye-care professional right away. He or she may want to repeat your eye exam to get an updated look at the condition of your retinas.

Why? With AMD, vision changes may happen quickly and be too subtle for you to notice. Some of these changes can signal a progression in your condition that requires treatment—as soon as possible.

An Amsler grid is a simple tool you can use to quickly check your vision weekly. It may help you spot important vision changes that can happen suddenly and be too subtle to notice without the grid. When you have macular degeneration, how you see the perpendicular lines on the grid may change. You can also use an app designed to do the same job as the Amsler grid.

Why? A change in what you see on the grid can mean that your condition has progressed and it’s time to start a new treatment plan as soon as possible. Be sure to check weekly. Some people set a reminder on their smartphone or wall calendar. If you notice changes, contact your eye-care professional right away.

Everyone age 55 and over should have a comprehensive eye exam once a year, and when you have macular degeneration it’s vitally important that you stick to the schedule. Call today to schedule your appointment, and make sure you’ll have time to have your eyes dilated. You may have blurry vision and be sensitive to light for a few hours afterward, so you should plan not to drive. Because dilation increases your sensitivity to light, bring sunglasses with you to the exam.

Why? Your eye care professional can see the structures inside your eye and may detect changes before you notice symptoms. Those changes in your eyes might mean it’s time for a new treatment plan to protect your vision. Your eye doctor should also advise you on what you can do preventatively to protect your vision.

To find an eye care professional, visit the websites of the American Macular Degeneration Foundation or the American Academy of Ophthalmology. If you’re on Medicare, you’re probably eligible for a free one-time eye exam with an ophthalmologist near you through Eye Care America, an initiative of the American Academy of Ophthalmology ( click here to find out more). Call today to schedule your appointment. Set it for a day when you can have your eyes dilated, which takes extra time. Afterward, you may have blurry vision and be sensitive to light for a couple of hours, so plan not to drive and bring sunglasses with you to the exam.

Why? An eye care professional is your partner in protecting your vision by looking for changes inside your eyes that may be visible before you notice symptoms. Those changes might mean you need a special treatment plan. Your eye doctor should also advise you on what you can do preventatively to protect your vision.

Depending on your most recent diagnosis, your doctor may recommend that you take an AREDS or AREDS2 formula supplement. When you’re shopping for the vitamins, make sure to choose one that has the exact nutrient formula that was used in the AREDS and AREDS2 studies—and take it every day.

Why? There’s only one nutrient formula that’s been scientifically proven to help protect your eyes when you have AMD. The National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2) found that supplements with a specific nutrient formula significantly reduced the risk of AMD progressing in study participants with intermediate and advanced AMD and might prevent vision loss.