Share We've known for years that smoking is a major contributor to macular degeneration.  In fact, it's the #1 controllable risk factor.

A study at UCLA looked at almost 2000 women and gave them an eye exam at age 78.  The participants had retinal photos taken every five years.  The researchers compared the images from the baseline exam at age 78 with photos at age 83.

Anne Coleman, M.D. is the lead author of the study.  "Age is the strongest predictor for AMD", she says. "Yet most research in this field has been conducted in people younger than 75. Our population was considerably older than those previously studied."

The study found that women who smoked had an 11 percent higher rate of AMD than other women their age.  More than that, women over 80 who smoked were five-and-a-half times more likely to develop AMD!

As Dr. Coleman reports, "We found that even older people's eyes will benefit from kicking the habit.  It's never too late to quit smoking."