“Baby Boomers” far better at avoiding age-related eye diseases

One of the major causes of loss of vision is macular degeneration. A new research suggests that baby boomers (born between 1946 to 1964) are able to preserve their vision at a better rate than their previous generation.

Aging baby boomers experience better eye health when they grow old as compared to earlier generations. This is because, those, who were born in newer generations, lead a healthier life, and hence, experience overall well-being in older age.

The findings of the study were published in the journal, JAMA Ophthalmology.

Study author, Karen Cruickshank and his team studied eye health of around five thousand Wisconsin residents. The study included people more than the age of 43 when the study started in the 1980s and their kids, who belong to Generation X.

The risk for age-related macular degeneration decreased generation by generation throughout the 20th century. Nearly 9% of the people in the Greatest Generation (1901 to 1924) developed illness of the eye. This percentage dropped to 1 in baby boomers and the percentage of macular degeneration affecting Generation X was only 0.3.

According to the researchers, each generation was 60% less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration as compared to its previous one.

However, it must be noted that irrespective of one’s generation, age is a factor that is responsible for the development of macular degeneration. You must make it a point to visit your eye doctor for routine checkups.

Source: drugs.com