Macular Degeneration:

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Macular Degeneration:

Starvation of the Retina

 

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http://www.eyeadvisory.com/macular_degeneration.html

 

There Is Hope

Macular Degeneration is a condition that affects the central area of

your vision, which provides the ability to see small details such as

road signs and print, and aids daytime vision. The cone cells in the

macula, a region at the rear of the interior of the eyeball, respond

to light and color. They break down on order to send an electrical

response through the optic nerve to the brain.

 

There is a yellow-colored pigment, Lutein, which is deposited in the

retina to help prevent toxicity from ultra-violet and blue light.

The cone photoreceptors are lined with fatty membrane and are

connected to nerve fibers. Just beneath this carpet of

photoreceptors is the retina pigment epithelium, and then a clear

membrane- called the Bruch's Membrane- that separates the retina

from the underlying blood vessel layer.

 

Free radicals are formed during the vision process, which requires

rapid neutralization by circulating antioxidants. In order to

maintain the right chemistry, we need to choose healthy foods and

supplements, digest and absorb them, have good liver function for

storage and metabolism, circulation support, and sleep a solid five

hours nightly. We also need to decrease inflammation in other parts

of our bodies, which will compete for the antioxidants.

 

So if your body has a low antioxidant " bank account " , degeneration

in the macula may result. The cells cannot be rebuilt quickly enough.

Symptoms of macular degeneration include: difficulty with small

print, missing areas in vision, and distortion of the letters on a

line. Ninety percent of people who have AMD have the dry, slowly

progressive form of macular degeneration. The other 10 percent

suffer from the wet form, which may cause a sudden loss of central

vision.

 

In the dry form of macular degeneration, toxic byproducts accumulate

in the Bruch's Membrane, forming yellow spots called drusen. The

pigment layer can also erode, further limiting the body's ability to

clear toxic materials from the eye. Again, the goal is to increase

your antioxidant bank account and make good lifestyle choices to

keep these cells functioning well.

 

In the wet form of macular degeneration, blood vessels may invade

the retina and begin bleeding, causing sudden vision loss. Some

people will respond to immediate photodynamic laser treatment, but

others may be left with a large blind spot and the loss of reading

vision in that eye. Therefore, it is important to contact an eye

doctor immediately and begin preventive measures for the other eye,

as well.

 

The Amsler Grid, a checkboard-patterened square, has parallel

vertical and horizontal lines. You should look at the central dot

with one eye covered, and note the pattern of the lines. If any of

the lines in any direction are missing or wavy, mark it with a

pencil or make a note. This Amsler grid can be used to determine if

there is a disorder of central vision (usually the macula) . It is

an excellent way to follow macular degeneration to see if it is

stable or progressing.

 

Amsler Grid

 

Treatments

Although many medical experts contend that there is no cure for

macular degeneration, I have discovered that there are natural

remedies for people who suffer or who are at risk from the dry form

of AMD.

 

AMD is a reflection of an underlying condition. I recognize that it

is due often to poor digestion for several decades, plus a lifetime

of light bombardment. Inadequate antioxidant defenses may be due to

poor nutrition from a fast food diet, or lack of absorption of the

essential antioxidants. Poor circulation, smoking, untreated heart

disease, and a high saturated fat diet may contribute.

 

The 8 year ARED (Age-Related Eye Disease) study demonstrated that

antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and Zinc

significantly reduced the risk of vision loss from moderate and

severe macular degeneration. Add Lutein, another naturally occurring

carotenoid which reflects harmful UV and blue light and builds

retina pigment defenses. To learn more about how 6mg Lutein daily

for high risk patients may decrease their chances of developing AMD,

visit www.luteininfo.com.

 

Did you know that 30% of the human retina and brain are made of that

most important omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) DHA is

a major component of the retina photo receptors. To rebuild the

retina, add cold-water fatty fish to your diet or supplement with

DHA. DHA, the end product of the omega-3 fatty acids, is in every

cell of our bodies and is more important than flax seeds or EPA in

fish oil. To learn more, visit www.martekbio.com, or

www.carlson.com. You can read more about all the antioxidants,

including Lutein and DHA in my book, The Eye Care Revolution, and

The DHA Story, both of which can be ordered from Amazon.com.

 

Other Recommendations

Wear UV-protecting sunglasses and hats.

Teach all of your family members to wear sunglasses.

Do not smoke.

Control high-blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and heart

disease.

Eat a balanced diet rich in green leafy vegetables, fruits, and cold

water fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines.

Take a daily multivitamin with 2 mg Lutein. Take 6-10 mg Lutein if

you have Macular Degeneration or are at risk. Take 200-500mg of DHA

for vision support as well.

Get an annual eye exam.

Check the Amsler Grid frequently, and report any changes.

Be sure your eyeglass prescription is current, and know that

additional magnification is available.