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Macular Degeneration:
Starvation of the Retina
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.
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Amsler Grid
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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.
- There are amazing new technical options being investigated.
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