Caregivers need to know that the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) will increase by 50 percent in the United States by 2020, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The current rate of one person in 27 will continue to increase dramatically due to the rapidly increasing aging population. For years, vitamin A has been known to prevent night blindness. Research now shows that eating a diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E; zinc; phytochemicals such as lutein and zeaxanthin; and omega-3 fatty acids can lower the risk of developing AMD. Earlier research linked a delay in the progression of AMD with a mix of several phytochemicals that play antioxidant roles plus the above nutrients. Consuming high-dose supplements of these nutrients primarily worked in people who had advanced AMD, but not as well for those in earlier stages of the disease. For more detailed information related to this question, visit http://www.extension.org/pages/Caregivers_Protect_Vision_Through_Diet.

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