treatment of bilateral macular degeneration?

Question

is only treatment for bilateral macular degeneration is no treatment?

Answer 1

There are many things that can slow the vision loss due to macular degeneration. I list below things that can help and some of them may apply to you.

Eat a diet rich in green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce etc), eat more fish (do not eat red meat - steak), eat nuts of any kind, do aerobic exercises (brisk walking for 1 hour - health permitting) and perhaps the most important - STOP SMOKING (if you are a smoker).

There are high dose vitamins and antioxidants that can help too. These are specific for macular dgeneration and are available without a prescription. REMEMBER that if you are a current or ex-smoker you should NOT take beta-carotene. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.

There are new treatments for wet macular degeneration. Lucentis has just been approved by the FDA. It is the first drug to produce a gain in vision in macular degeneration patients. The drug is injected inside the eye.

Therefore - it is not true that 'no treatment' exists for macular degeneration. There is extensive research going on. Macular degeneration genes have been identified and maybe in future - anti-inflammatory drug treatment will have a role too.

Read the articles listed and talk to your eye doctor. There is HOPE.

Answer 2

There is no cure for macular degeneration. If it's the dry type, it can take years for it to get worse. If it's the wet type, prepare yourself for laser surgery in the future to stop the leakage.

Think about getting some good magnifers, not the type sold at WalMart, but at a low vision store. Mind you, these can run several hundred dollars, but you will be getting something worth the money. Some excellent magnifying glasses are made by Eschenbach and Coil.

Next, increase the wattage of your light bulbs, if your lamps will handle higher wattages. Consider halogen lamps for increased light.

Last, since macular degeneration is loss of central vision, your peripheral vision should still be good. Train yourself to slightly turn your head to use your peripheral vision. This will come in handy for the future.

Hope this helps and good luck.