New Discovery Detects the Most Damaging Age-Related Macular Degeneration

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

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New discovery detects the most damaging age-related macular degeneration...http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Healt...Damaging-Age-Related-Macular-Degeneration.htm


The new discovery predicts, on a personalized basis, which patients' AMD would, if untreated, probably make them blind, and roughly when this would occur.

Simply by crunching imaging data that is already commonly collected in eye doctors' offices, ophthalmologists could make smarter decisions about when to schedule an individual patient's next office visit in order to optimize the chances of detecting AMD progression before it causes blindness.

An estimated 10-15 million people in the United States suffer from the disease, in which the macula — the key area of the retina responsible for vision — shows signs of degeneration.

During normal aging, yellowish deposits called drusen form in the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. As drusen increase in size and number, they eventually begin to damage the light-sensitive cells of the macula. This stage of the disease, called "dry" AMD, can mean blurry central vision and impaired day-to-day activity.
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I see an opthamologist yearly. I have no issues... but want to make sure none are developing. I have learned I have very early cataracts.. but not anywhere near ready to have anything done about them. The rest of my eye structures are thankfully healthy. I advise a yearly checkup for everyone over 60
 
Cataracts just starting here too. Dr. says it will be awhile before they need attention. My eye pressure is high so back for more tests soon. Mom had glaucoma so that makes me a suspect. My brother has had it since his late twenties.
 

Pappy said:
Cataracts just starting here too. Dr. says it will be awhile before they need attention. My eye pressure is high so back for more tests soon. Mom had glaucoma so that makes me a suspect. My brother has had it since his late twenties.
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There was glaucoma in my family too... but fortunately, my eye pressures are normal. My hubby had cataract surgery in one eye about 9 years ago.. So far, all is great with his vision and pressures now.. He has narrow angle glaucoma and had an Iridiotomy in one eye.. (a tiny hole in the iris to allow tears to escape and keep pressure down.) That has worked fine.
 
Pappy said:
Whatever it takes, QS. I would hate to lose my eyesight. :cool:
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Hubby says it wasn't a bad procedure.. It was painless, and done with a laser.. it took 2 minutes and was outpatient. He didn't think his cataract and lens replacement procedure was bad either.. it was just weird according to him. he watched the whole thing.
 
While you are waiting for your macular degeneration and cataracts to get worst. Think about slowing down or even reversing it.
Macular degeneration and cataracts are caused by free radical damage. There is many causes of free radical damage but the main one is a free oxygen molecule. Your body has a natural scavenger for free radicals and it is gulathione but as we age we make less. When this gulathione captures a free radical it is deactivated selenium reactivates glutathione. Also we have in foods a substance that will capture or neutralize free radicals and they give them a Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity [ORAC] score. Eat as high ORAC score as you can and stop the fried foods that are a manger contributor to free radicals
 
d0ug said:
While you are waiting for your macular degeneration and cataracts to get worst. Think about slowing down or even reversing it.
Macular degeneration and cataracts are caused by free radical damage. There is many causes of free radical damage but the main one is a free oxygen molecule. Your body has a natural scavenger for free radicals and it is gulathione but as we age we make less. When this gulathione captures a free radical it is deactivated selenium reactivates glutathione. Also we have in foods a substance that will capture or neutralize free radicals and they give them a Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity [ORAC] score. Eat as high ORAC score as you can and stop the fried foods that are a manger contributor to free radicals
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This is good info as always Doug, instead of just waiting for it to happen, and have an eye-doctor tell you it's started, try some preventatives, or something that may slow the process. I so believe in nutrition, as well as supplements. It's really hard to get good fish here, without paying an arm and a leg, plus my sister seems to have a phobia from the smell. So now I'm just taking fish oil sups. Anyway, off track there, but all around nutrition can help us with a lot of this degenerative stuff. I know, it's happened in my body with some different things I've tried.

I also get my eye-checkups, not just for my lenses, but to make sure nothing is going wrong. I do know I have some issues with night-driving, just don't feel as secure as I did when I was younger;)
 
If its comforting at all, cataract surgery is really a fairly easy and routine surgery...even though its normal to worry a bit! It will amaze you at how much better you can see after you have it done.
I have two friends that have halted their macular degeneration with the fairly new shots in the eye... One lady is 72 and the other is 87... They each have to take them once every 3 to 4 months and they are doing really well... The day after the shots is usually NOT fun or comfortable at all...but beginning the next day, its all fine. It may not sound inviting...but it sure as heck beats going blind.
 
Bettyann said:
If its comforting at all, cataract surgery is really a fairly easy and routine surgery...even though its normal to worry a bit! It will amaze you at how much better you can see after you have it done.
I have two friends that have halted their macular degeneration with the fairly new shots in the eye... One lady is 72 and the other is 87... They each have to take them once every 3 to 4 months and they are doing really well... The day after the shots is usually NOT fun or comfortable at all...but beginning the next day, its all fine. It may not sound inviting...but it sure as heck beats going blind.
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Yes Bettyann, I am glad they have something that is working for you girls. Those shots in the eyes sound awful, but we learn to bite the bullet when we have to have surgery or whatever;) Good to see you today;) Denise
 
At age 80, I was recently diagnosed with age related macular degeneration after my cataract was removed....and started treatment a month ago.

I received the 'shot in the eye' and also am taking ARED2 twice a day. The cost of each injection (20% of my insurance coverage) is $340 + ....and not affordable on a monthly basis.

Frankly, I saw better before I had those procedures. Previously, I only saw out of one eye... now I'm seeing ,,,if you want to call it that... with two, and it's blurry and wavy and I'm almost feeling 'sea sick' and lose my balance while walking. I wish I hadn't started this eight ball rolling, and am considering wearing an eye patch to cover the trouble.

I see the eye specialist next Thursday, and plan to discontinue further treatment. My only concern is the possibility of the condition occuring in my 'good' eye. I'm a design artist and have run my own business for 40 years, and would like to continue as long as I'm 'around'.

I hope someone out there can share their experience with me. ~ Joyce
 
My wife suffers what the doctor dubbed the double whammy. She has both Macular Degeneration and glaucoma. It started many years ago with what she described as "headache of her eyes". She takes prescription eye drops several times a day and has little vision in her right eye. She had to give up driving due to lack of peripheral vision. I am her chauffeur. We have both had cataract surgery. My wife has undergone several needle procedures of her eyes also, no fun.
 
I feel with your wife, Jim...and you as well. Glad you could be her chauffeur. My husband does the same, but he's in early stages of dementia, so I worry.
 
I sure hope it works out for you guys. In my city we have a special taxi deal, anywhere in the city, anytime day or not, $2. Maybe you have such a thing too?
 
SeaBreeze said:
Aspirin thins the blood and causes bleeding, may promote macular degeneration in seniors...http://douglassreport.com/2011/10/28/wonder-drug-robs-eyesight/
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Maybe instead of aspirin, one could use turmeric which also has some blood thinning properties. And isn't that the reason that one takes an aspirin a day? To thin the blood so that one is less likely to experience heart problems from clots or something like that? I'm sure QS could clarify those points very easily. I believe that turmeric has anti oxidant properties which would fight the free radicals that damage the eyes, not to mention the other good stuff it does for you!
 
My old Dad had Macular Degeneration in his later years, so I might be prone to that, also. I get a thorough eye exam every year, and the doctor suggested I take a daily Lutein pill (6mg.) and a couple of fish oil supplements every day. I used to have a prescription change nearly every year, but since I started this Lutein/Fishoil routine, I haven't had to have a new prescription in the past 4 or 5 years, and the annual exams are looking good...so far. I also had an occasional "floater" in my vision, but haven't noticed anymore of that in the past several years. The daily pills only cost pennies, but seem to be well worth it.
 
Don M. said:
My old Dad had Macular Degeneration in his later years, so I might be prone to that, also. I get a thorough eye exam every year, and the doctor suggested I take a daily Lutein pill (6mg.) and a couple of fish oil supplements every day. I used to have a prescription change nearly every year, but since I started this Lutein/Fishoil routine, I haven't had to have a new prescription in the past 4 or 5 years, and the annual exams are looking good...so far. I also had an occasional "floater" in my vision, but haven't noticed anymore of that in the past several years. The daily pills only cost pennies, but seem to be well worth it.
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Those "floaters" seem pretty common. I have had them from time to time Don. I hope you are lucky enough to get missed on the MD.
 

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