Weight a factor in sight-loss condition affecting over-50s

WEIGHT has been identified by Irish researchers as a new risk factor for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the principal cause of sight loss in people over the age of 50.

Scientists at Waterford Institute of Technology found that increased weight may reduce macular pigment levels, increasing the risk of developing AMD.

The condition affects one in 10 people over the age of 50 and while it is not as well known as other eye diseases, such as cataracts or glaucoma, it is the most common cause of registered blindness in Ireland.