A new Irish study has indicated that gaining weight may increase your risk of developing a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness.

The research found a strong link between changes in body fat and macular pigment levels found in the back of the eye. 

While age remains the main risk factor for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which affects one in ten people over 50, the findings may have important implications for the growing number of people who are overweight, as weight increase may reduce macular pigment levels and therefore increase the risk of developing  AMD
 
The new study, directed by Professor Stephen Beatty and Dr. John Nolan at the Waterford Institute of Technology and supported by the Irish charity Fighting Blindness, was designed to investigate which factors determine or influence a person’s macular pigment level. 

Macular pigment, which is a dietary pigment obtained from eating fruits and vegetables containing lutein and zeaxanthin, is believed to protect against AMD as it filters blue light which causes damage to the macula and neutralises unstable molecules which are believed to contribute to AMD. 

The researchers explored whether weight loss in overweight subjects is associated with changes in serum concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin and/or macular pigment.

The findings have confirmed that high levels of body fat reduce this protective eye pigment and that weight loss can significantly increase it, suggesting that weight loss may lead to additional protection against AMD.
 
The research results have been released ahead of this year’s AMD Awareness Week, which takes place from MondaySunday September 20-26, and is supported by National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), Fighting Blindness, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) and the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI), in association with Novartis.
 
The aim of AMD Awareness Week is to increase public awareness on how to spot the symptoms of AMD and to highlight the importance of early diagnosis. AMD is the principal cause of sight loss for people over the age of 50 in the Western World.(3) Although it is not as well known as other eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma, it is the most common cause of registered blindness in Ireland.(2)

The test to detect the early signs of AMD can be carried out by local optometrists and eye doctors. It normally takes place as part of a routine eye examination. 
 
Throughout AMD Awareness Week, free testing and information will be available to detect the early signs of AMD at a range of local independent optometrists, eye doctors, public libraries, golf clubs and other locations nationwide.
 
Further information about AMD and free testing locations throughout the country is available at www.amd.ie