Are You, Your Children or Grandchildren at Risk for AMD

Many studies and macular degeneration statistics are showing that there is a strong genetic link.

Dr. Michael Samuel writes in his book, Macular Degeneration: A Complete Guide for Patients and Their Families, "Studies have shown that relatives of people with AMD are 3X more likely to have the disease as those who don't have family members with the disease."

Do we only need to be concerned if one of our parents have AMD? Unfortunately not. Your risk also greatly increases if you have a brother or sister with AMD.

This was very true for my father-in-law's family. He has wet macular degeneration and several of his siblings developed it as well.

Again, Dr. Samuel writes, "In one study researches found that the risk of developing AMD is about 19X greater for a sibling of someone with macular degeneration as it is for a sibling of someone without the disease!"

Does that mean that there is nothing to do but wait and see for family members who are at risk like my husband? That's not what we are doing.

We like the encouraging words again from Dr. Michael Samuel, a macular degeneration and retina specialist,

"Here's the good news about macular degeneration. Early, dry age related macular degeneration can be prevented, slowed or even reversed with diet and lifestyle changes."

To find out what we are doing to prevent or delay AMD for my husband and our children click here: Macular Degeneration Prevention

Thanks so much for subscribing to Macular Degeneration News.

Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision