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Honored Contributor
Posts: 34,520
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amd-prevention.htm

 

DH Opthalmologist appointment the protein drusen was mentioned. The appointment was with DBIL’s opthalmologist, a specialist in macular degeneration.

 

“AREDS2, a five-year study with more than 4,000 participants who had varying stages of AMD* at the time of enrollment, evaluated the effect of adding lutein (10 mg) and zeaxanthin (2 mg) and/or omega-3 fatty acids (350 mg DHA and 650 mg EPA) to the original AREDS formula. These nutrients were chosen because they have demonstrated eye benefits in other studies.”

 

 

Researchers with the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) reported in 2001 that a nutritional supplement called the AREDS formulation can reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The original AREDS formulation contains vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc and copper.

 

500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C.
400 international units (IU) of vitamin E.
10 mg of lutein.
2 mg of zeaxanthin.
25 or 80 mg of zinc (as zinc oxide)
2 mg of copper (as cupric oxide)

 

*AMD = AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

~Have a Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, Brave Spirit~
Regular Contributor
Posts: 212
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

I've read those supplements are beneficial too and used to take an eye supplement. My opthalmologist told me to stop taking them because the purity of the supplements isn't known for certain. Does anyone else have an opthalmologist that doesn't recommend taking eye supplements?

Honored Contributor
Posts: 69,400
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

@LTT1.  Funny you should bring this up because I had an eye exam this past week where the doctor advised me that I'm in the beginning stages of macular degeneration.  Both of my parents had it and were legally blind.  They had to give up driving and most of the activities they'd enjoyed.  This doctor I saw, also treated them.

 

He gave me some vitamin samples which also contained 10mg lutein, and said that most experts consider about 25mg daily to be the optimum dose for eye health.  He is attending a seminar on eye nutrition this week so I told him to call me if he learned anything new.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,612
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

I don’t have MD, but my sister does.  She is not allowed to drive anymore, so,I am her driver and her ears.  She is deaf in one ear.  

 

I take her to her doctor appointments and she goes to the Retina specialist every five weeks to get an injection in her right eye.  The doctor showed me the picture scans of her eye and the shots are helping.  He said she could cut back on the shots to every 8 weeks and if there is Improvement, he will move the visits and injections further apart.

 

She has been taking Preser Vision for years.  That is an eye supplement. I have no idea if it has helped.  The shots are working, that’s for sure.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,583
Registered: ‎08-08-2013

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

[ Edited ]

I have Macular Degeneration.  I have the "dry" form in my left eye and the "WET" form in my right eye.  I get injections with EYLEA every 8 weeks.  I started the injections in 2014 and so far, my vision is 20/20 in that eye.  It's 20/30 in the "dry" eye.

 

I also take AREDS 2 (10 mg. Lutein daily) recommended by my Retina Specialist.  I trust him.  He was trained at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and is still young enough to remember everything he learned.  He is in his 30's.....  So far, so good.

 

One year after my first injection, he started me on the EYLEA.  Next month, I will be getting my 27th injection.

 

ETA:  When I first started the injections, it was with a chemotherapy drug called Avastin which was discovered to be good for the eyes.  Then, the EYLEA came out and I was switched to that and also "upped" from every 6 weeks to every 8 weeks.  I think I will start going every 10-12 weeks now, since my pictures are looking so good.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,681
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

I have macular edema - not degeneration (my Mom had it.)  EYELEA has been a miracle drug for me.  Anyone with either should inquire of their eye dr about EYELEA.  I started on Avastin as well and was also switched after 3 or 4 months.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,848
Registered: ‎10-03-2011

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

I appreciate the info.  Some of these are in the supplements I take but not all in the listed strengths so I need to work on that. My mom had macular degeneration so it's something I want to prevent if at all possible. In reading about astaxanthin, it's supposed to be better/more effective than lutein so I'm taking that; 10 mg. daily.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 713
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

[ Edited ]

There is no cure for dry macular degeneration.  The vitamins slow down the progression.  Macular degeneration affects the central vision.  A person can look at you and see all around you, but they can't see your face.  It also can run in families so people should tell their children and siblings that they have it.  Lighting is very important.  It helps to sit by a window to read.  A magnifier may help. Use your Amsler grid everyday to see if it gets worse. Also a good diet.  Lots of greens.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 874
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN

I too have been diagnosed with MD in addition to glaucoma.  I use drops in both eyes daily for the glaucoma and the dr has had me taking the vitamins for several years and he feels it slows down the progression of the MD.  I have to visit him every four months.  I did start out with dry MD and have now developed wet.  I never realized you could have both.  I will do as I am told to help slow any progression. 

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Posts: 6,583
Registered: ‎08-08-2013

Re: AMD AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION DISCUSSION DRESEN


@kitty60 wrote:

I too have been diagnosed with MD in addition to glaucoma.  I use drops in both eyes daily for the glaucoma and the dr has had me taking the vitamins for several years and he feels it slows down the progression of the MD.  I have to visit him every four months.  I did start out with dry MD and have now developed wet.  I never realized you could have both.  I will do as I am told to help slow any progression. 


@kitty60  Hi.  Sorry you have developed the wet form of MD but is your doctor doing anything about it?  Are you seeing a Retina Specialist?  I, too, started out with the dry form but after my cataract surgery, I developed the wet form in one eye.  I was told that this is one of the complications of cataract surgery.  

 

Exactly one month after I had my cataract removed from my right eye,  I happened to have a routine appt. with my Retina Specialist to check on my "dry" MD.  That's when he discovered the "wet" right eye.  He immediately gave me antibiotic drops, just in case it was an inflammation from the surgery.  I had to use the drops for just one week.  Sure enough, it wasn't an inflammation and he started with the injections.  The rest is history.

 

Please take care of that ASAP.  Your eye must be treated and believe me, those injections are a miracle.  Good luck.