This report is directly from the Archives of Opthalmology (http://archopht.ama-assn.org/) and the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (http://macular.org).
Dietary Fat and Eye Disease
Here is another reason to cut back on greasy foods. A report in the Archives of Opthalmology reveals that people who load up on fats may increase their chances of developing age-related blindness. Previous research show a direct relationship between high fat intake and macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.
Scientists have learned that different types of fats may be harder on the eyes than others. Harvard researchers questioned 349 patients with the disease and 504 people with other eye conditions about dietary and other health habits. The results showed that total fat intake, animal fat, or cholesterol didn’t seem to affect the risk, while intake of vegetable fat was strongly associated.
The good news: scientists report that eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids – such as tuna or salmon may help prevent the disease.