topic Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration in Community Chat

Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Marp2 — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:08:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A class of drugs used for three decades by people infected with the virus that causes AIDS may be effective in treating a leading cause of blindness among the elderly.

HIV drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), including AZT and three others, blocked age-related macular degeneration in mice and worked well in experiments involving human retinal cells in the laboratory, researchers said on Thursday.

In HIV-infected people, NRTIs block an enzyme the virus uses to create more copies of itself. The new research shows the drugs also block the activity of a biological pathway responsible for activating inflammatory processes in the body.

It is that previously unrecognized quality that makes NRTIs promising for treating macular degeneration as well as graft-versus-host disease, a rarer ailment that can occur after a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, the researchers said.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/hiv-drugs-show-promise-treating-common-eye-disease-190837700.html

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Teacups — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:22:04 GMT

that is great news ....My MIL had it very bad.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

June Lands — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:41:17 GMT

About time! The government needs to make this more of a priority! No research is being done.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

JuJu Squeezie — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:43:15 GMT

Excellent news, I hope it keeps coming.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

151949 — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:45:12 GMT

If you can block inflammatory processes in the body then you could help MANY diseases that start out as inflammation. Arthritis come most immediately to mind.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Free2be — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:41:53 GMT

Good news. The politics of research, testing, approvals and marketing is beyond my knowledge except that there are barriers left and right. I wish it could be given a green light all the way with safety the first consideration.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Topaz Gem — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:43:02 GMT

My mother had macular degeneration and it was so sad, because she loved to read and especially missed reading her Bible. I'm so glad that there's hope for others who are suffering from the disease.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

CelticCrafter — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:48:21 GMT

On 11/20/2014 Topaz Gem said:
My mother had macular degeneration and it was so sad, because she loved to read and especially missed reading her Bible. I'm so glad that there's hope for others who are suffering from the disease.

Topaz my mom had it also, she voluntarily gave up driving because of it, couldn't read like she used to or knit or crochet anymore.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Preds — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 00:19:30 GMT

Wonderful news! So hope it keeps working and more can be done with it.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

ShowMe — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 00:27:58 GMT

About 3 months ago my eye doctor was checking me for my glaucoma pressure, and at that time he recommended that I see a retina specialist because he was not sure, but was suspecting the beginning of macular degeneration.....so he arranged for me to have an appointment with a very good one...... After numerous hours in the retina specialist's office, he said I could go home and sleep well that night because I don't have it. But to be double sure, he wants me back in 6 months (3 months now) to be on the safe side. Have so much with my eyes all my life, and you have no idea how scared I was with that news from my eye doctor. The specialist told me my doctor had seen some black spots in my eye, and that is why he was thinking MD......but the specialist said what is happening to me is part of the aging process.

It would be fantastic if they could stop this from happening......

I too know several folks that have it........

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Shorty2U — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:26:30 GMT

I saw that features on the local news here last week. That is wonderful news.

Now if only they found something for Fuchs dystrophy which my husband has. They can no longer "get" his (thick) glasses to correct his eyes. In the morning especially he can barely see when he wakes up, everything is foggy. One day (don't know how long from now) he will need cornea transplants (as in both eyes). I feel so bad and worry about him going blind one day.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

ms traditional — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 02:59:42 GMT

On 11/20/2014 CelticCrafter said:
On 11/20/2014 Topaz Gem said:
My mother had macular degeneration and it was so sad, because she loved to read and especially missed reading her Bible. I'm so glad that there's hope for others who are suffering from the disease.

Topaz my mom had it also, she voluntarily gave up driving because of it, couldn't read like she used to or knit or crochet anymore.

m mother had it as well but signed up for Books on Tape through library/Braille Institute and ending up "reading" (listening to) more books than before. a great service.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Gooday — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 03:24:57 GMT

My dad has an appointment tomorrow with his ophthalmologist. He told me last week that he has lost the sight in his left eye.

Since I am currently in another state, my cousin who is an R.N. is taking him to his appointment.

I am wondering if he has developed macular degeneration. I am perplexed as to what could have caused this. He had just been seen in June so, I don't know.

I am anxiously awaiting their phone call tomorrow afternoon.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

chessylady — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 03:33:55 GMT

At my last annual vision test, my eye doctor told me that I had druzen in my right eye which is an early indicator for macular degeneration. The good news is that my vision is unchanged in the last two years. I am also taking a combination vitamin that was found to be effective for age related macular degeneration. In addition leafy green vegetables and orange vegetables are recommended. Thank you for this information, it gives me hope for the future.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

september — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 03:35:36 GMT

Gooday, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your dad. My husband has had two detached retinas (one in each eye), and this comes on rather suddenly. But a good surgeon can fix it.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Gooday — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 03:42:29 GMT

On 11/20/2014 september said:
Gooday, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your dad. My husband has had two detached retinas (one in each eye), and this comes on rather suddenly. But a good surgeon can fix it.

I thought of that but, I always thought that was accompanied by severe pain which he does not have. But, I am no expert.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 04:59:44 GMT

My mom had Macular Degeneration and it changed her world. I've been doing all I can, taking supplements and wearing sunglasses. I hope this new information really pans out to real life treatment.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

Kachina624 — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 05:23:36 GMT

Both of my parents had severe macular degeneration and it ruined their lives. I move here to New Mexico because neither could drive. There is no public transportation where they lived. They were both voracious readers which they could no longer do. Dad couldn't play golf, they couldn't see to go to the movies, opera or watch TV. Mom had trouble turning the stove on, reading instructions on packages, or give someone her credit card number on the phone. Even dialing the phone was hard. They had all the "blind" gadgets, but in their 80's didn't have a lot of patience to use them. Dad was able to sign checks using a huge, expensive reader but it would drive you nuts trying to read a book on it.

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

ShowMe — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 05:27:26 GMT

On 11/20/2014 chessylady said: At my last annual vision test, my eye doctor told me that I had druzen in my right eye which is an early indicator for macular degeneration. The good news is that my vision is unchanged in the last two years. I am also taking a combination vitamin that was found to be effective for age related macular degeneration. In addition leafy green vegetables and orange vegetables are recommended. Thank you for this information, it gives me hope for the future.

chessy......from what I have been told from my retina specialist's girl in his office, he is one that was involved in the making and development of that vitamin. I think it is called "FOCUS".....

Yes, about the veggies......remember when we were little kids....."eat your carrots, they are good for your eyes......" Have always liked spinach and carrots......

Please tell me what druzen is......never heard of it...... TIA

Re: Promising Hope For Macular Degeneration

september — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 05:29:39 GMT

On 11/20/2014 Gooday said:
On 11/20/2014 september said:
Gooday, I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your dad. My husband has had two detached retinas (one in each eye), and this comes on rather suddenly. But a good surgeon can fix it.

I thought of that but, I always thought that was accompanied by severe pain which he does not have. But, I am no expert.

My husband didn't have any pain with either detachment. But a rather sudden loss of vision. The good news is...that both surgeries were 100% successful. The bad news is the recovery process, but since you don't know what your dad's problem is yet...too soon to say if you need to know these details.