My mother, who is 78 years old, says that everything looks dark and that this problem is getting progressively worse. An ophthalmologist told her several years ago that it was because she did not eat at least two cups of spinach a week. The doctor also strongly suggested that my sisters and I all eat spinach -- that no other green will keep this vision problem from occurring. Is this true?

Bev

The most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 65 is age-related macular degeneration. In this condition, the light-sensitive cells that make up the central part of the eye's retina, or macula, gradually die. Patients eventually lose straight-ahead vision, such as is needed for driving or reading.

It appears that both heredity and lifestyle factors may influence a person's risk of developing macular degeneration. One lifestyle factor that has been the focus of much research is diet. Some studies have found that people who eat lots of green, leafy vegetables containing certain antioxidants appear to have a lower risk of macular degeneration. However, other studies have failed to find such an effect.

Because the scientific evidence on the role of diet is inconclusive to date, we can only say that leafy, green vegetables that contain antioxidants may be helpful in preventing or delaying the onset of macular degeneration. Eating spinach on a regular basis is certainly a healthy habit that would provide you with many valuable nutrients. However, when it comes to macular degeneration, there is nothing unique or special in spinach that would make it superior to other leafy, green vegetables or even to dietary supplements containing antioxidants.