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Author Topic:   Macular Degeneration and nutritional supplements
Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


(2)
Message 1 of 4 (756771)
04-27-2015 6:24 AM


Since my eye problem came up on another thread because I made some strange mistakes in identifying objects in pictures, I thought I'd start a thread on the subject as a sort of public service announcement.
The condition I have is macular degeneration and it's not something I ever imagined having until I had it. It's the gradual deterioration of the macula, the central section of the retina, which blots out your vision right in the center of the field of vision and usually gets worse until it becomes the main cause of blindness in the elderly. Well, I'm "elderly" and this has been coming on for about five years now. It was only diagnosed about two years ago but I'd had symptoms for a few years before that: it started with sensitivity to glare which left a blob in front of my eyes after long exposure to a particularly bright monitor. The blob was at first a few small points of light that kept moving, sort of dancing around each other. It would be worst right after exposure to glare and gradually fade back to almost normal over an hour or two. I tried to deal with it by toning down the monitor and wearing sunglasses and finally got a new monitor, which was a little better but not much better.
Since I'd thought it was a problem with the monitor at first I didn't think of seeing an eye doctor. Eventually I mentioned it to someone who said it sounded like macular degeneration. So I did finally see an ophthalmologist who verified the diagnosis.
There are two kinds: wet and dry. Wet is the most severe, can involve bleeding of the retina and is treated by monthly shots of a drug straight into the eyeball. I know of two people now who are getting those shots and apparently they do work to keep the disease from getting worse.
I have the dry kind, which is more common, and all they do for it is prescribe a supplement called AREDS2 (Age-Related Eye Disease Study, second formulation), based on a study done over many years that showed a particular combination of nutrients did slow the deterioration to advanced macular degeneration. This is a specific combination of vitamins C and E, zinc and copper, and lutein and zeaxanthin. It originally included beta carotene but that's been linked to lung cancer in smokers and ex smokers. Since I used to be a heavy smoker I don't take the formula with beta carotene. Smoking is one of the factors considered to predispose to MD.
This formula is available under many brand names, but before I knew anything about this study I came across an ad for a supplement that contained the seven AREDS nutrients plus many other ingredients and decided to try it. I've been taking it ever since, the one without the beta carotene. It's the only supplement I've ever taken that I am sure is helping, and not just my eyes but my general health. I think it's improved my eyes noticeably but there's no cure for MD.
ABE: The dancing blob is larger now but I still pass my driver's test and it's only really a problem after too much time on the computer. It still fades a great deal when rested after exposure but it's still noticeably worse than it was a few years ago. A major sign of MD is that straight lines and parallel straight lines look wavy. If I go off the supplement for any length of time that symptom gets worse, and after I've been taking it regularly again it gets better. I also sometimes have a problem with color: complementary colors appear like their complement. My first experience of this was quite startling: a bright bluegreen plastic bottle looked bright magenta and I couldn't get it to change back to its own color. This symptom too has improved with the supplement, very rarely happens now.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Jon, posted 04-27-2015 3:35 PM Faith has replied
 Message 4 by Faith, posted 05-02-2015 11:01 AM Faith has not replied

  
Jon
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 4 (756819)
04-27-2015 3:35 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Faith
04-27-2015 6:24 AM


That's really unfortunate, Faith. But I'm glad the supplement is helping.
I personally think modern medicine gives too little credit to natural remedies and is in general too fixated on managing symptoms with expensive pharmaceuticals than curing an illness or correcting a problem.
I hope the AREDS2 keeps you seeing for a long time.

Love your enemies!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Faith, posted 04-27-2015 6:24 AM Faith has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Faith, posted 04-29-2015 7:44 AM Jon has not replied

  
Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 3 of 4 (756848)
04-29-2015 7:44 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Jon
04-27-2015 3:35 PM


Thanks. If I were more organized and ambitious I'd add juicing to the regime. Beta carotene in supplement form may be a problem but I don't think carrot juice is, in reasonable quantities anyway. And all those nutrients in the AREDS formula are available in green leafies and other vegetables and fruits that make good juice. Nuts and seeds are sources of some too, not for juicing but good eating. Eggs are the best source of zeaxanthin.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Jon, posted 04-27-2015 3:35 PM Jon has not replied

  
Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 4 of 4 (757060)
05-02-2015 11:01 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Faith
04-27-2015 6:24 AM


brand name
Thought I should give the product name of the supplement that is so helpful for me in case someone else is interested: It's Preserve Mac Forte Advanced and I get it through Ringold Nutritional Systems. To get the full benefit you take six pills a day. It's expensive but they put out lots of discount deals if you can catch them at the right time. This formula has many more nutrients in it than just the AREDS formula and I don't know which ones to credit with the good results, but I've heard that some who take the bare AREDS formula can't tell if it's doing anything. I like to know it's helping, and this is.
If all you want is the AREDS2 formula, Bausch and Lomb's Preservision has the exact dosages based on the study. My favorite Preserve Mac is slightly short on E and Zinc but the rest are the correct doses if you take six pills a day. Just eat more nuts and beef to get the E and Zinc up to par.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Faith, posted 04-27-2015 6:24 AM Faith has not replied

  
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