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An old saying proclaims that the warranty on the human body expires after forty years. Whether that's true or not, the various parts of our body react to aging in varying ways. If you had an active lifestyle, your joints may wear out. If you injured yourself at an early age, the effects of that injury may worsen with time. Your sense of sight is no different.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) causes cell deterioration within the macula. Because the macula is located near the middle of the retina, AMD affects your central frame of vision. It will affect such processes as reading, writing, driving and even some cognitive functions, like recognizing locations or faces.
Types of Macular Degeneration
The type of Macular Degeneration treatment used depends on the type of ARMD the patient has. Most folks acquire Dry Macular Degeneration when waste products, known as drusen, form beneath the macula. Those little yellow spots don’t affect peripheral vision. They gradually destroy the macular cells, distorting the central vision. Macular Degeneration vitamins can offset the effect of a lack of antioxidants, which are needed to remove the drusen from the macula.
If the condition persists, it can advance to Wet Macular Degeneration. This is a far more serious version of AMD experienced by about ten percent of those affected by AMD. With Wet AMD, acute vision loss occurs quickly as blood vessels start growing, and because of being small and fragile, they can easily leak blood and fluid.
Any of these conditions can cause Macular Degeneration.
- Smoking or drinking alcohol to excess can contribute to or worsen Macular Degeneration by compromising the body’s immune system. Without a strong, healthy immune system, free radicals cannot be removed from the eyes. Free radicals are a natural byproduct of metabolic processes, but they can also be formed if direct sunlight passes through the lens.
- Poor nutrition causes a lack of the nutrients that are necessary for healthy eyes. The eyes require sufficient nutrients like vitamin B-complex, bioflavenoids, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, taurine, and zinc, but primarily require adequate amounts of meso-zeaxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein.
- Heredity can also be a factor. Genetics is the most critical of the risk factors.
- Drugs can damage the retina. Two of the more widely-used drugs are the arthritis medication, hydroxchloriquine sulfate and the blood pressure medication, chloridine. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, can also cause eye damage. NSAIDS include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen and even aspirin. Acetaminophen has also been shown to damage vision. You're probably more likely to recognize these medications by their brand names--Bayer, Aleve, Motrin, Advil, Plaquenil, Catapres and Tylenol.
- Unprotected exposure to sunlight. Every time you've received a sunburn, those damaging rays also made their way into your eyes if you didn't protect them with UVA/UVB sunglasses.
Among the groups who are more likely to experience macular degeneration are women, smokers, adult diabetics, those with high blood pressure, those whose family members have a history of AMD and those with compromised digestive and immune systems.
Macular Degeneration Treatment
Currently, the only conventional Wet Macular Degeneration treatment available is laser surgery, (There is no treatment for the Dry form of AMD.) The treatment may have worse consequences than the condition as it might damage the retina irreversibly. Any relief is not usually seen for a year. Photodynamic therapy can focus more closely to seal leaky retinal blood vessels, avoiding further damage to the retina.
Injecting anti-angiogenesis medications may prevent the development of new blood vessels in the eyes, providing some relief for Wet Macular Degeneration. These drugs include Lucentis, Avastin and Macugen. This treatment achieves the best results when used in concert with photodynamic therapy. Serious side effects can be experienced if you use drugs, so this course of action must be considered carefully.
The best way to preserve your sight is to exercise preventive medicine. Get plenty of rest so your immune system can recharge itself. Eat nourishing meals so your body has the nutrients it requires to effectively deal with free radicals. Consider a vitamin supplement that contains all three critical nutrients: meso-zeaxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein.
Macular degeneration may display any or all of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty reading printed words.
- A blank zone in the center of your field of vision.
- Straight lines appear curved.
- Sharp images appear to be blurred.
- Colors lack brightness.
- The center of your field of vision seems foggy.
The Amsler Grid test is a handy self-test. It can be easily found, along with directions, by searching the internet. Your eye care professional may also have one available. Be sure to ask.
Like most conditions, there are myths about AMD. One of them is that those who suffer from macular degeneration will keep losing their sight. Another related myth is that the long-term loss of one’s sight cannot be thwarted effectively. The truth is that a diagnosis of macular degeneration doesn’t guarantee a loss of sight. Macular degeneration management is available in the form of macular degeneration vitamins that prop up the antioxidant level, helping the eyes clear the drusen from the macular properly.
Macular Degeneration Vitamins
Nutrients such as meso-zeaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, along with omega-3 fish oil and zinc, can slow the macular degeneration process and maintain your optic health. The regular use of microcurrent stimulation can aid in the preservation of your vision as well. This was confirmed by recent research. In concert with any macular degeneration treatment, modifications to one’s lifestyle can bolster the effects. Macular degeneration vitamins, treatment and pro-active adjustments may even improve one’s eyesight.
Macular degeneration is a serious condition. Safeguard yourself to preserve your precious sight.
