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Macular Degeneration

Myths:

Everyone with macular degeneration is going to continue losing vision, and there is no effective treatment to avoid this.

Facts:

You do not have to lose your vision with macular degeneration. There are steps you can take to stabilize and even possibly improve your vision.

Overview:

Macular Degeneration (ARMD-Aged Related Macular Degeneration) is the slow deterioration of the cells in the macula, a tiny yellowish area near the center of the retina where vision is the most precise. This deterioration therefore affects your central vision, the very vision you use for reading, writing, driving and recognizing faces. ARMD causes the loss of central vision. Your peripheral vision is not affected.

There are two types of macular degeneration: Ninety percent of people with macular degeneration have the dry type, in which small, yellow spots called drusens form underneath the macular. Drusens are believed to be waste products that accumulate because of lack of antioxidants to clear the waste from the eyes The drusen slowly break down the cells in the macular, causing distorted vision. Dry macular degeneration can progress to the second, more severe type, called wet macular degeneration.

In the wet type, new, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow toward the macular, causing rapid and severe vision loss.

Symptoms:

Causes:

Individuals at risk for macular degeneration include:

Drugs that can damage the retina: (see "Drugs That Harm the Eyes" for a more complete list of harmful drugs:)

  • Plaquenil (hydroxchloriquine sulfate) is a drug routinely prescribed by rheumatologists for rheumatoid arthritis. It has caused irreversible retinal damage.
  • Chloridine (brand name catapres) – is used to lower blood pressure
  • The whole family of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause visual side effects such as cataracts, dry eyes, and retinal hemorrhages that may result from long-term use. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Bayer, Aleve), flurbiprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen sodium. Also Tylenol (acetaminophen), though not an NSAID, can be harmful.

Conventional Treatment:

At the present, there is no effective treatment. Some causes of macular degeneration are treated with laser surgery, but the treatment itself may not effectively seal up a leaky blood vessel without at the same time permanently destroying retinal nerve fibers that pass through the area. According to the National Eye Institute, laser treatment can actually worsen vision, and any ability to slow the progression of disease does not appear until at least a year after surgery.

On April 12th, 2000 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Visudyne Therapy to be used on a trial basis for treatment of wet macular degeneration. This procedure has been shown on a trial basis to be less damaging than laser treatments in its ability to target abnormal blood vessels, and avoid damaging retinal cells. Only patients who are currently enrolled in clinical trials sponsored by QLT and CIBA Vision are eligible for treatment at this time. Patients and practitioners seeking additional information may view the web site at www.Visudyne™.com, call the patient/practitioner hotline In North America, 1-800-821-2450, or visit www.photodynamic.net for practitioners who use this therapy near you..

As always, prevention is the best medicine. Using complementary medicine to try to address the underlying cause of macular degeneration, along with traditional medicine to try to prevent damage on an acute basis, is the best approach to preserving vision both short and long-term. Since less than one-percent of those with macular degeneration have progressed to the point of legal blindness, most are in a position to benefit greatly from prevention.

Complementary Treatment and Recommended Products

See these Updated Essential Nutrients for Macular Degeneration

Self Help:

Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in getting and maintaining good vision. Below are some recommendations:

  • daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our macular degeneration recipe is some combination of the following: ginger, garlic, leeks, parsley, beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, spinach, kale, collard greens, apples, grapes, raspberries, lemon, chlorophyll, wheat grasses – (not too much fruit). For more information, go to "Click Here"
  • Reduce or eliminate drinking caffeine and sodas, avoid aspartame (labeled diet foods)and man made fats (corn oil and safflower oil, trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils including canola oil, and especially margarines).
  • Eliminate deep fat fried foods, monosodium glutanate (MSG) used as a flavor enhancer which is a potential retinal toxin (Inv Oph 1996; 37: 1618-24), and fat blockers like Olestra which impair the absorption of carotenoids (Argus, August 1996;19:18:July 1996;19:22). Eating greater amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol appear to increase the risk of AMD.
  • Limit your alcohol consumption to 1 glass of red wine at night. Alcohol interferes with liver functions, reducing protective glutathione levels (Alcohol 1993;10;469-75).
  • Eliminate smoking. Smoking among other things produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.
  • Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin such as One Plus Multivitamin (see website for more information) and/or a good Green Drink (see Paleogreens).
  • Limit the amount of medications (both prescription and non-prescription as much as possible. Make sure to work closely with your doctor.
  • Exercise daily - do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
  • Managing your emotional health is very important in maintaining physical health. Fear (fear of failure, responsibility, of being alone, of death, etc.) is at the root of many of life’s problems, and is a major factor in many diseases. Take up the practice of meditation, yoga, tai chi, walks in the woods or prayer on a daily basis.

See related studies

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