As a follow-up to my recent article about macular dengeration, here's five basic but powerful actions you can take to help prevent or reduce the severity of the disease:

* Stop smoking -- smoking decreases the amount of oxygen in the blood stream.

* Wear quality sunglasses -- High-quality glasses reduce ultra-violet light exposure. More suggestions here.

* Lose excess weight/exercise - obesity is a major risk factor for the above conditions, including macular degeneration.

* Maintain normal blood pressure -- High blood pressure is a major risk factor for both systemic and other eye conditions (arterial and vein occlusions, etc.)

* Eat foods rich in anti-oxidants-- Two anti-oxidants in the macula are lutein and zeaxanthin, abundant in green leafy vegetables -- especially kale, collard greens, and spinach. See my previous article for more ideas.