Serious Vision Problems and Eye Disease Climbing Rapidly in U.S.

It seems as if illness and disease are always in the news, and that degenerative conditions are always rising in the United States. And recent news reflects that eye disease is no different, with serious vision problems rising steadily in the U.S. Is this increase able to be reversed through diet, or is it simply something we must live with?

The Scary Rise in Vision Problems and Eye-Disease

A new report from the organization Prevent Blindness America says that numerous eye disorders are climbing at alarming rates—many of them with effects including blindness. Macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts are all included and seem to be affecting more and more people each day.

According to their report, which used Census data and new research, scientists compared Americans with vision problems now with those who had vision problems in 2000.

According to WebMD Health News, there has been:

• An 89% increase in diabetic retinopathy, with nearly 8 million people over the age of 40 affected.
• A 25% increase in age-related macular degeneration, with about 2 million over the age of 50 affected.
• "A 19% increase in cataracts, with more than 24 million people age 40 and older affected".
• "A 22% increase in open angle glaucoma, with nearly 3 million people age 40 and older affected".

These rates of growth are alarming, to say the least. While some increase would be worthy of note, an 89% increase of diabetic retinopathy, for example, is a sign that something needs to change or we'll end up a nation of blind diabetics.

The rise in diabetic retinopathy is "scary," according to Anne Sumers, MD, a clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Interestingly, these eye diseases have something in common: a dietary link.

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