topic Re: Macular degeneration in Wellness

Macular degeneration

novamc1 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 11:20:38 GMT

Might be worth starting a new thread of shared info on the subject of age-related macular degeneration. Some mention of it was made on the recent thread about dry eye. It is a separate issue, and it went a little beyond the original dry eye topic by a few of us..

Just a suggestion for anyone interested in this topic...........do an internet search for the National Eye Institute (part of the federal government's National Institutes of Health) and then the topic of macular degeneration.

Some interesting info there and possibly on other related websites, if you have this degenerative eye problem or have a family history of it.

Re: Macular degeneration

phoenixbrd — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 12:34:27 GMT

@novamc1 You might want to read this article. My mother went blind with Md....I practice what this article suggests:

MACULAR DEGENERATION: BLIND FROM THE WESTERN DIET BY: JOHN MCDOUGALL M.D.

Like other degenerative diseases – heart disease, stroke, arthritis – age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is due primarily to our diet and secondarily to our lifestyle – therefore easily preventable, and to some extent reversible.......

an article from the Dr. McDougall newsletter.

Re: Macular degeneration

novamc1 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:30:33 GMT

Thanks for this reference, but his article is dated 2003 and cites obesity, diet, poor numbers for triglycerides and cholesterol, etc., as factors that contribute to macular degeneration.

My blood tests for the past several years indicate I have a very low level of triglycerides and high levels of "good" cholesterol, and I'm not obese or even overweight according to accepted guidelines, so I'm not sure how his article relates to the overall subject of macular degeneration as approached by my own eye specialists.

The vitamin supplements being recommended by vision experts these days contain a high level of antioxidants, and exposure to harmful sun rays are considered to be major contributors to eye disease.

The McDougall article presents one more opinion to consider against more recent research and opinion by people who specialize in eye health. I'm not sure that particular doctor is an eye specialist, but perhaps I'm wrong.

Re: Macular degeneration

Hoovermom — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:41:22 GMT

My dad had macular degeneration and there is nothing you can do to reverse. I know I've heard about all the vitamins/supplements, but that is false information. Mom and dad both were advid followers of "natural" medicines and still fell to different types of illnesses.

Re: Macular degeneration

patbz — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 14:31:39 GMT

My Dad also went blind from MD and I was (am) worried about the possibility of MD in my extreme old age. I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes and paid about $800 to have a test on both eyes mid surgery to test for MD and several other things. Thankfully, there are no signs of it in either eye.

Re: Macular degeneration

novamc1 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 16:07:35 GMT

@Hoovermom

You'll never convince the two eye specialists I know that the vitamin recommendations are false information.

They don't claim the supplements will reverse AMD. They only say that it will slow down the progression of AMD and help preserve what vision is left to enjoy.

Believe me, I've asked them some pointed questions about taking such high doses of the specific ingredients and about the skepticism I've seen expressed by some other people.

They remain firm in their recommendation to use them.

Re: Macular degeneration

dragonflyveb — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:25:41 GMT

My eye doctor suggested that I do a genetic test for MD. With Medicare, it only cost me $50. There are 5 levels for MD, with 4&5 being the worst. 1,2, and 3 have associated percentages of risk of developing MD.

He recommended yearly checks, polarized sunglasses at all times, and taking an eye supplement.

dragonfly

Re: Macular degeneration

Nightowlz — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:58:54 GMT

I posted some links over on the dry eye thread for @Kachina624 since she was asking about it.

I guess there are different types so would need to know what type you have to post the correct information.

Re: Macular degeneration

Hoovermom — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:05:49 GMT

@novamc1 wrote:
@Hoovermom

You'll never convince the two eye specialists I know that the vitamin recommendations are false information.

They don't claim the supplements will reverse AMD. They only say that it will slow down the progression of AMD and help preserve what vision is left to enjoy.

Believe me, I've asked them some pointed questions about taking such high doses of the specific ingredients and about the skepticism I've seen expressed by some other people.

They remain firm in their recommendation to use them.

I am sure they believe what they believe, I know what I have experienced which trumps what they believe. Living proof.

Re: Macular degeneration

Ibby114 — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:19:08 GMT

@Hoovermom wrote:
My dad had macular degeneration and there is nothing you can do to reverse. I know I've heard about all the vitamins/supplements, but that is false information. Mom and dad both were advid followers of "natural" medicines and still fell to different types of illnesses.

@Hoovermom My Dad had macular and taking supplements helped keep it at bay! He took Bausch & Lomb Preservision AREDS2 with Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Since it's genetic in my family, my Andrew Lessman Essential 1 multivitamin contains both ingredients.

Re: Macular degeneration

sophiamarie — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:38:13 GMT

I have Macular Degeneration and have posted it here a few times. It was diagnosed in August 2014.

I started out with the "dry" form in both eyes and then I had cataract surgery on both eyes. After my second eye was done, I had a routine appt. with my Retina Specialist, who noticed after looking at my pictures, that I had some leakage in my right eye. He thought it might be an inflammation from the cataract so he gave me some drops to use for just one week.

Well, after the week was up, the leak was still there and he concluded I had the "wet" form of Macular Degeneration. I was immediately started on injections with a drug called "Avastin", which is really a chemotherapy drug which was found to be helpful for the "wet" form of MD and approved for eye injections by the FDA.

I was getting these injections for one year, when another drug came out, called EYLEA and was strictly for the wet form of MD. I should also say I was getting these injections every 4-6 weeks. depending on how my picture looked.

Exactly one year later, in August of 2015, he started me on the injections with EYLEA every six weeks. Shortly after that, I had improved so much, that he had me coming in every 8 weeks. This past Friday, I had my 28th eye injection.

He also had me taking AREDS 2, which I get from Amazon every 2-3 months. I take them 2x a day.

Needless to say, my sight is 20/20 and I couldn't be more grateful to my Retina doctor and his training at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. I would recommend him to anyone, anywhere. He has 5 Star reviews and is young, compassionate, and has a lot of patience, since most of his patients are not young and hearing that you need an injection in your eye, is kind of scary.

I hope I alleviated some fears a few of you might have. My father also went blind from MD, but then again, nobody knew about these treatments 30 years ago. There is hope.

Re: Macular degeneration

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 06:26:34 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
I posted some links over on the dry eye thread for @Kachina624 since she was asking about it.
I guess there are different types so would need to know what type you have to post the correct information.

@Nightowlz I don't know yet what type it will be as it's just developing. So far it hasn't affected my vision yet.

Re: Macular degeneration

Kachina624 — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 06:35:36 GMT

@Ibby114. I started the Andrew Lessman lutein plus 30mg of plain lutein in addition. Doctor says there's no maximum dose but 20mg is considered the optimum dose

Both of my parents had MD and were legally blind. I retired and moved here to help them as neither could drive anymore. Now they're both gone and there's nobody to help me so I must help myself. Needless to say, my diagnosis didn't come as a shock.

Re: Macular degeneration

sidsmom — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 12:42:05 GMT

@novamc1

I j.u.s.t saw this in my Youtube notifications!

Dr. Pam Popper (PhD/ND), who does informative videos

every Thursday on many different topics, had the topic of

Macular Degeneration this morning.

Topic begins at the 6:30 mark.

HTH! 🌼💛

https://youtu.be/8uiveBD4TJ8

Re: Macular degeneration

Nightowlz — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 17:49:11 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Ibby114. I started the Andrew Lessman lutein plus 30mg of plain lutein in addition. Doctor says there's no maximum dose but 20mg is considered the optimum dose

Both of my parents had MD and were legally blind. I retired and moved here to help them as neither could drive anymore. Now they're both gone and there's nobody to help me so I must help myself. Needless to say, my diagnosis didn't come as a shock.

@Kachina624

I'm sorry you had to deal with this with your parents & now dealing with it yourself. Hope you can find something new on the market the can help you. This indeed is very scary not knowing what will happen & who will help you.

I pray the lutein will keep yours at bay for years to come.

DH's dad passed in Dec & mine in Feb so we both all know all to well what's coming for us as we age & wondering whose going to help us. Sure we helped our parents but we don't have any kids. I'm not looking forward to being alone if DH goes before I do. I have never been on my own. If he goes first I'm going with him.

Re: Macular degeneration

Ibby114 — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 20:05:20 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Ibby114. I started the Andrew Lessman lutein plus 30mg of plain lutein in addition. Doctor says there's no maximum dose but 20mg is considered the optimum dose

Both of my parents had MD and were legally blind. I retired and moved here to help them as neither could drive anymore. Now they're both gone and there's nobody to help me so I must help myself. Needless to say, my diagnosis didn't come as a shock.

@Kachina624 Do you mean Andrews Ultimate Eye Support supplement? That has probably 5x more lutein and zeaxanthin than my Essential 1 multivitamin! My eye dr advised me the combination of these 2 ingredients is what really benefits MD.

Re: Macular degeneration

Kachina624 — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 05:03:29 GMT

@Ibby114. Yes, Ultimate Eye Support.