I went to the eye doctor this morning for a comprehensive exam, mainly to see if I needed glasses (which of course i do). The doctor stated that I had drusen and diagnosed me with macular degeneration. I have googled and googled but I guess I am not clearly understanding simple things. I need statistics like how many people will actually go blind, can I retard the progression and for how long...And did I mention that I am only 40? I am struggling right now with what did I do to cause this. Any and all help appreciated.
2007-08-17 07:44:35 · 14 answers · asked by blonde4 3 in Health ➔ Optical
You might look at it this way. Did you ever go outside and take a magnifying glass and burn a piece of paper, or wood, or leaf, or do the boyscout start the fire thing with the lens?
In doing so, you take a few square inches of light from the sun and focus it to a point. There's so much energy there that heat is produced...causes a fire.
You have in each eye a lens system that focuses light directly on the back of your eye, right in the middle (macula). And you're surprised that after 40 years you've cooked the thing!
Why didn't you cook it when you were younger? Well, you did, but the circulation around the macular region, especially beneath it, in the choroid, acts as a cooling radiator like membrane. It also removes the little toxic molecules or super-oxides, or oxygen radicals or ?. And when you are young, that circulation is so good, no damage occurs.
But as we get a little older, we get rusty pipes. The circulation slows or becomes less efficient. So anything that might contribute to cardiovascular disease will make macular disease progress faster, or be associated with it...such as smoking.
Your tendency for vascular disease and macular disease also has a genetic component. Nutrition may also play a role in providing molecules that prevent oxidative damage or move the toxins away faster by binding them one way or another.
Drusen are a sign of this damage. Taking the omega-3 substance helps with heart disease, AMD too. Kale helps too. Some pills work too. (vitamin E, C, Beta Carotene, Zinc/copper).
It doesn't blind people as in total blind. It makes it hard to see detail, read, be able to drive, recognize faces. No one goes black blind from this.
You should be able to hold off for a long time the worsening of this process with the supplements mentioned. Dark glasses also help. The brown/polarized ones seem the most comfortable and provide a lot of protection.
With this basic idea of AMD now read the long one. It'll make more sense.
2007-08-17 18:15:32 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Macular Degeneration?
I went to the eye doctor this morning for a comprehensive exam, mainly to see if I needed glasses (which of course i do). The doctor stated that I had drusen and diagnosed me with macular degeneration. I have googled and googled but I guess I am not clearly understanding simple things. I need...
2015-08-26 18:27:13 · answer #2 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work for a group of ophthalmologists and have a retina specialist who works very closely with macular degeneration patients. I've been doing data collecting for him for about three years, and truly, everyone is different.
His recommendations to his patents are the AREDS vitamins, like Ocuvite Preservision, and daily monitoring of an Amsler grid for any changes (your optometrist can provide you with one if he hasn't already).
On a personal note, my grandfather has macular degeneration, and was diagnosed many years ago...he is in his 90s and just in the past 5 years has had trouble with his vision.
I provided a link to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation website. We give this website as a source for many of our newly diagnosed patients. There is a lot of information there, including treatments, and a listing of clinical trials.
I hope that this helps explain what is happening, but as for statistics and progression rates, that truly differs for every individual.
2007-08-17 11:11:18 · answer #3 · answered by Jennifer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dry macular degeneration...a difficult thing to understand and accept.
there are no straight and simple statistics like what you're asking for (that i know about). X% go blind and Y% dont kind of thing. the reason you cant really find specific info is b/c it isnt really out there.
most doctors agree in the case of dry AMD theres not a lot that can be done. antioxidant supplements are the current accepted therapy. some new drugs on the horizon with promise, but yet to be proven.
http://www.bausch.com/en_US/consumer/visioncare/product/vitamins/ocuvite_adult.aspx
2007-08-17 08:08:28 · answer #4 · answered by princeidoc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi Blonde4. Did your doctor discuss your diet with you? There is a large body of scientific evidence documenting the role of diet in the development/prevention and treatment of AMD. Here are a few quotes from the scientific literature:
1) "...higher dietary lutein and zeaxanthin intake reduced the risk of long-term incident AMD. This study confirmed the Age-Related Eye Disease Study finding of protective influences from Zinc against AMD." Note: lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids found in yellow, orange, red and green fruits and vegetables. Also, most Americans consume much less than the RDA for Zinc (10% are grossly deficient in this vital nutrient).
2) "Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, (vitamin) C or zinc, clearly have protective effect in AMD..." "In addition two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, may play a more specific role in the eye ... their role is probably to filter out phototoxic blue light and to quench singlet oxygen." "Finally, docosahexaenoic acid (an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) is particularly important for the retina, where it exerts structural, functional and protective actions." Note: recent medical studies found 91% of American children were deficient in vitamin E. 50% of Americans consume less than the RDA for vitamin C. Most Americans consume very little omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Sadly, your doctor should be knowledgeable about all of this and should have discussed it with you, but I doubt that was the case.
It may be wise to see a nutritionally trained health care provider for a thorough nutritional/biochemical assessment. Your total health is at risk, not just your eyesight!
Best wishes and good luck.
2007-08-17 08:21:19 · answer #5 · answered by Doctor J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drusen Wiki
2016-12-12 19:18:18 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People who plan their weekly meals will be more successful at losing weight than those that don’t. Plan your dishes to feature healthy carbs such as fairly sweet potato and wholegrain pasta, greens and lean proteins, buy all the ingredients in advance and don’t be tempted you can eat out or order in.
2017-03-11 00:09:17 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suck the idea in. Consciously hold in and contract your abdominals while you’re walking, sitting at the desk or making the meal. This will help to strengthen your stomach muscles and your core, and create for you one step closer to a new flatter stomach.
2016-07-03 01:34:04 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eat muesli two hours before working out to boost fat burning because you train. Slow to digest, muesli takes longer to have through your system, so is less probably be turned into fat and still offers you a good energy boost.
2016-01-28 10:34:14 · answer #9 · answered by Alise 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eat goats cheese as opposed to regular cheese. It contains 40 percent fewer calories than the cheese produced from cow’s milk.
2016-02-16 19:12:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋