In Sarasota's July Vital Signs department, Su Byron discussed the causes of--and cures for--macular degeneration. Here are some more facts and figures for you to mull over if you're researching or affected by the condition.

ENVISION THIS:

- About 25.4 percent of U.S. residents are nearsighted (myopic) and 9.9 percent are farsighted (hyperopic), according to the National Eye Institute.

- The American Optometric Association says about 70 percent of people who use computers every day will develop vision problems such as dry eye.

- About 5.5 million U.S. residents have cataracts severe enough to cause vision problems, with about 400,000 new cases developing annually. This leads to about 1.35 million cataract surgeries each year (University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology).

- About 2.2 million Americans have been diagnosed with glaucoma, and another two million do not know they have it.

- More than 1.6 million Americans over age 60 have advanced macular degeneration.

- Diabetic retinopathy affects more than 5.3 million Americans age 18 and older.

- The number of Americans with age-related eye disease is expected to double within the next three decades.

SOURCES: About Vision (vision.about.com) and The Eye Digest (www.agingeye.net )

Presbyopia: Age-related loss of ability to see close objects or small print; usually corrected with reading glasses

Floaters: Tiny spots or specks that float across the field of vision; can be normal but may sometimes signal a more serious problem

Cataracts: Clouding of the lens of the eye, which could lead to blurry vision or loss of eyesight; can be safely corrected with surgery

Glaucoma: A group of diseases in which the pressure inside the eye is usually too high for the normal functioning of the retina and optic nerve

Macular degeneration: Deterioration of the macula (central part of the retina that distinguishes fine detail), which causes gradual loss of vision

Diabetic retinopathy: Vision problems caused by diabetes; occurs when small blood vessels stop delivering blood to the retina properly, which causes sight to be distorted

SOURCE: Medem, Inc.; www.medem.com)

Monitor your vision daily with an Amsler grid. By checking your vision regularly, changes that may require treatment can be detected early.

Take a multi-vitamin with zinc. (Check with your eye physician for a recommendation). Antioxidants, along with zinc and lutein, are essential nutrients, all found in the retina.  It is believed that people with AMD may be deficient in these nutrients.

Incorporate dark leafy green vegetables into your diet. These include spinach, collard greens, kale and turnip greens. 

Always protect your eyes with sunglasses that have UV protection. Ultraviolet rays are believed to cause damage to the pigment cells in the retina.

Quit smoking. Smoking impairs the body's circulation, decreasing the efficiency of the retinal blood vessels.

Exercise regularly. Cardiovascular exercise improves the body's overall health and increases the efficiency of the circulatory system.

These are a few tips to make reading easier:

Use a halogen light. These have less glare and disperse the light better than standard light bulbs. 

Shine the light directly on your reading material. This improves the contrast and makes the print easier to see.

Use a hand-held magnifier. A drugstore magnifier can increase the print size dramatically.

Try large-print or audio books. Most libraries and bookstores have special sections reserved for these books.

Consult a low-vision specialist. These professionals are specially trained to help visually impaired patients improve their quality of life. After a personalized consultation, they can recommend appropriate magnifiers, reading aids, practical tips, and many resources.