In the beginning I was terribly embarrassed. I would go into the liquor store and couldn't read the labels and prices. But you don't just lie down and die. You cope the best you can. There is little known about the causes of AMD, though speculation ranges from environmental pesticides to artificial sweeteners, from smoking to sunlight exposure.
Some experts say it is merely a result of the aging process in which the body begins to break down.
Risk factors also include a family history. Women apparently develop AMD more than men, as do people who are farsighted and who have light-coloured eyes. Eye experts who've noted research that shows a link between AMD and diet recommend taking a daily multivitamin enhanced with zinc and lutein, a type of carotene. Lutein and zeaxanthin, another antioxidant, are also found in corn, squash, orange juice, kiwi fruit, grapes and egg yolk. Mundle takes these supplements himself, though the link between AMD and diet has not been confirmed.