Macular Degeneration: Starvation of the Retina
Macular Degeneration is a condition, which effects the central area of your vision, which provides the ability to see small details such as road signs and print. The cone cells in the macula, a region at the rear of the interior of the eyeball, respond to light and color accounting for your daytime vision. They break down in order to send an electrical response through the optic nerve to the brain. The rods are mostly in the periphery of the retina and account for your nighttime vision.
Free radicals are formed during the visual process, whereby wavelengths of light strike the retinal cones which breakdown and send an electrical message through the nerve fibers to the brain. This process requires rapid reconstruction of the cones neutralization by circulating antioxidants; the broken down cell products are removed by the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. So if your body has a low antioxidant “bank account,” degeneration in the macula may result. The cells cannot be rebuilt quickly enough.
There is a yellow-colored pigment, Lutein, which is deposited in the retina to help prevent toxicity from ultra-violet and blue light. The cone photo-receptors are lined with by a fatty membrane and are connected to nerve fibers. Just beneath this carpet of photo- receptors is the retina pigment epithelium, and then a clear membrane called the Bruch’s Membrane that separates the retina from the underlying blood vessel layer.
Symptoms of macular degeneration include: difficulty with small print, missing areas in vision, distortion of the letters on a line. Ninety percent of people who have AMD have the dry, slowly progressive form of macular degeneration. The other 10 percent suffer from the wet form, which may cause a sudden loss of central vision.
In the dry form of macular degeneration toxic byproducts accumulate in the Bruch’s Membrane, forming yellow spots called drusen. The pigment layer can also erode, further limiting the body’s ability to clear toxic materials from the eye.
In the wet form of macular degeneration (which is a progression from the dry form), blood vessels may invade the retina and begin bleeding, causing sudden vision loss. Previously, immediate laser treatment was all we had. But the development of Lucentis and Avastin, which close off the offending blood vessels, may provide immediate reversal and recovery of vision. Therefore, it is important to contact an eye doctor immediately and begin preventive measures for the other eye, as well.
Treatments
Although many medical experts contend that there is no cure for macular degeneration, I have discovered that there are natural remedies for people who suffer from or who are at risk from the dry form of AMD.
AMD is a reflection of an underlying condition. I recognize that it is due often to poor digestion for several decades, plus the stress of chronic light bombardment with inadequate antioxidant defenses. People are not only getting poor nutrition from a fast food diet, but they may not be absorbing some of the essential antioxidants.
Many people with AMD who have other medical conditions (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, low thyroid function) and who are taking multiple prescription drugs have borderline liver function. The liver stores and releases the fat- soluble vitamins that are crucial for sight. Antacids will reduce the stomach’s ability to break down and absorb some basic nutrients. Also, the post -menopausal female, people with blue eyes, those with AMD in their family history, and smokers are at higher risk.
Nutritionists and holistic doctors recognize the liver is the sentinel organ of the body, responding to toxic materials, production needs and distribution of essential nutritional components. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine have long recognized that the liver is key to the eyes. I have found the best prevention also works as a treatment. I recognize you can’t be taking everything, so you should select the foods and supplements. You should be sharing whatever you do take with your eye doctor and other caregivers.
This checkerboard-patterned square has parallel vertical and horizontal lines. You should look at the central dot with one eye covered, and note the pattern of the lines. If any of the lines in any direction are missing or wavy, mark it in witha pencil or make a note. This Amsler grid can be used to determine if there is a disorder of the optic nerve or macula. It is an excellent way to follow degeneration to see if it is stable or progressing.
The 7 year ARED (Age-Related Eye Disease) study demonstrated that antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and Zinc significantly reduced the risk of vision loss from moderate and severe macular degeneration. Add Lutein, another naturally occurring carotenoid, which reflects harmful UV and blue light and builds retina pigment defenses. To learn more about how 6mg of Lutein daily for high-risk patients may decrease their chances of developing AMD.
Did you know that 30% of the human retina and brain are made of that most important omega-3 fatty acid, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)? DHA is a major component of the retina photoreceptors. To rebuild the retina, add cold-water fatty fish to your diet or supplement with DHA which is more important than flax seeds or EPA in fish oil. Much has been written about the protective value of omega-3 fatty acids for all diseases including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and some cancers.
Other Recommendations
- Wear UV-protecting sunglasses and hats
- Teach all of your family members to wear sunglasses
- Do not smoke
- Control high-blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and heart disease
- Eat a balanced diet rich in green leafy vegetables, fruits, and cold-water fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines.
- Take a daily multivitamin with 6 mg Lutein; take 10 mg Lutein if you have macular degeneration or are at risk; take 1000 mg of DHA for vision support as well; consider Right for the Macula.
- Get an annual eye exam
- Check the Amsler Grid frequently, and report any changes
- Be sure your eyeglass prescription is current, and know that additional magnification is available
There are amazing new technical options being investigated, such as gene therapy, nano-technology, stem cells, and artificial vision implants. For people who are almost blind there still remains the possibility of low vision optical aids, which are available in most communities and provided by state vision impairment agencies.
