Is the hip bone connected to the eyeball? A 10-year study says yes, in the sense that stronger bones and healthier eyes go together in older women.

The study included more than 1,000 women ages 65 and older. Researchers compared the women’s bone-mineral density at their hips with their risk for age-related maculopathy (ARM), a form of macular degeneration. ARM is a serious eye disease that affects about 9 million adults older than age 40. Left untreated, it can cause severe vision loss.

In the study, women who had the highest bone-mineral density were more than 30 percent less likely to have ARM.

Here are some steps you can take to protect both bones and eyes:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Make sure your diet includes the recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
• Ask your doctor about supplementing your diet with antioxidants: vitamins C, E, and A, plus betacarotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.