Fat Intake May Speed Age-Related Blindness
(NY, Reuters Health, 12/09/03)

For 5 years, Dr. Johanna M. Seddon of Harvard Medical School, and associates, tracked 261 older adults who had Advanced Macular Degeneration (AMD). The researchers found a correlation between consuming a diet that is high in fats, especially vegetable fats like those in processed baked goods, and the progression of the eye disease. They also noted that the fat in nuts seemed to block disease progression. The scientists speculate that consuming certain fats may promote plaque build-up in the arteries of the eye or may create substances that damage the macula. These findings highlight the importance of a healthy, fat-conscious diet for eye health.