Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Macular Degeneration

Age Related Macular Degeneration is a disease that affects central vision. Research is in progress regarding Macular Degeneration and ways to alter the course of the disease. Although little is available to help us at this time, it seems that there are some things you CAN do that MIGHT be beneficial. Also, research Macular Degeneration on the internet.

1. Print an AMSLER GRID from the internet or get one from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Tape it to your bathroom mirror and use it to detect changes. (bending lines, dim areas, etc. ANY change is significant).
2. Wear U.V. absorbing sunglasses when outdoors
3. Eat fish and nuts regularly
4. Avoid fatty foods
5. Use AREDS-2 Formula vitamins

Other supplements with promise:
Resveratrol (red wines, Spanish grape juice)
ECGC (epigallocatechin gallate)
CoQ-10 (ubiquinone)
Vitamin D
Fish oil

I am also using an OPTO PULSE 100 unit for microcurrent stimulation.

If you are fortunate enough to have access, Frank O. McGehee, M.D., Huntsville, Texas, is getting impressive results with his work.

Also, Leo Semes, O.D. of the Umiversity of Alabama School of Optometry at Birmingham is enviably competent.

Dudly:

Dad has it in both eyes now. The one eye had shots so it's stabilized after a year of shots, but now the other one has it. He has progressed from dry to wet. His central vision is gone in one eye.

My eye doctor said that if you have cataracts, get them treated before the macular turns from dry to wet, or the surgery will be postponed until the eye is stabilized, which could take a year or more. Dad didn't listen.........

Other than that, he's in great health. I know that the eye problem is affecting his mental health, he will get depressed when he realizes that he won't be able to drive after a while.

Thanks Dudley - by uv absorbing is that different from ones that block uv - what should we be looking for?

Absorb or block, Eric. Usually advertised as block. Anyone in your family affected?

Esshup, I'm so very sorry about your Dad. There seems to be a genetic component so you might want to get involved early although so little is known that there's no assurance that preventive measures help. But they certainly won't hurt and are absolutely worth a try.
It's extremely frustrating for patient and doctor as both try hard and watch as the disease progresses. Research is being done but nothing has emerged as a curative treatment. I've read that stem cells show promise but that ship is still far out at sea as are most of the other ships.

Another tidbit: smokers should avoid beta carotine.

Not yet and I hope to keep it that way.

Macular Degeneration is something our immediate family knows a lot about. We are in the process of remodeling our home so that an 84-year old relative can move in with us. She is in otherwise excellent health, except for this horrible affliction. She can no longer cook for herself. It is difficult for her to do her own laundry, because she can't see the dials on the washer and dryer. Her little dog is good, as he stands still while she feels her way to getting him hooked to a leash. We've found land-line phones she can use, but we can't find a cell phone she can use. We got her a 50-inch TV and a remote control that has 1-inch square buttons with braille.

She was not diagnosed soon enough to do any real good. A good friend is an ophthalmologist, and she has done what she could over the last couple of years, but even that has been very limited.

Thanks for the reminders.

Some will be happy to know that "There were no consistent associations with the amount of beer, wine or liquor consumption and the incidence or progression of Age-related Macular Degeneration" and "alcohol consumption is unlikely to strongly increase (or decrease) the risk of AMD."

No one in the immediate family has smoked, so that isn't a concern. Dad had a cataract removed in the eye that is stabilized about a month ago, and it has helped with the peripheral vision, nothing can bring back the central vision.

I noticed CoQ-10. That stuff seems to be amazing.

UV absorbing sun glasses. Do they make them in polarized versions?

Dave, I don't know which brands but polarized UV blockers are made. I think the ones Greg Grimes sells are among the group. That info would be on the label.

Refer to post opening this topic: correct spelling is resveratrol.

Dud, thanks for posting this stuff.

I'm happy to share, Dave, and grateful that this forum provides the perfect vehicle to do it. I will update as I receive updates. Some will be helped while others will be beyond help, choosing to cope with things as they are.

All of the dietary supplements are available online. I use Vitacost.

Referring to the Amsler grid, each eye should be checked individually in both bright and dim lighting.

It seems that stem cell treatment is being done at the XCell-Center in Dusseldorf and Cologne, Germany.