Often called AMD or ARMD (age-related macular
degeneration), macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss and
blindness in Americans aged 65 and older.
AMD is a degenerative condition of the
macula, the part of the retina responsible for the sharp, central vision needed
to read or drive. Because AMD affects the macula, you may lose your central
vision or reading vision.
The risk factors
The risk factors for macular degeneration
are: age over 65 with risk increasing proportionately with age; a smoker with 2.5
times increased risk than a non-smoker; having blue eyes instead of
brown eyes (blue eyes enabling the blue-violet sunrays to penetrate deeper into
the eye tissues of the retina, and hence a greater chance of developing macular
degeneration); a sun worshiper spending much time outdoors
Given
that macular degeneration begins much earlier, from youth through the age of 30
years, deterioration accelerates as aging progresses.
The symptoms
Macular
degeneration symptoms include the following: outlines
of objects becoming blurry and wavy; straight lines becoming crooked; shapes of
objects becoming indistinct and steamy; much slower reading speed; a prolonged
period of time to adapt when going indoors from a bright outdoor environment; eye
examination indicating many solar-aging spots on the retina
The treatment
There
is little or no cure once the onset of macular degeneration begins. You can
retard it, but there is no cure. Prevention is better than no cure. The key to
retina health is to keep the retinal blood vessels open, to avoid buildup of
cholesterol, blood clots, and calcification.
Laser treatment can arrest the fast-progressing form of
macular degeneration, but does not improve vision or preserve eyesight.
Therefore, prevention is always the best option.
Eye nutrition can protect the retina from further damage
or deterioration.
Vitamins A, C,
and E, and beta carotene, which is a precursor for vitamin A, can
reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration. It is therefore important
that as you grow older you need mega-doses of nutrients because of poor
absorption due to inadequate digestive juices for digestion and absorption.
Zinc can retard the
loss of protective melanin pigment of the retina against sunlight damage. In
addition, zinc helps the release of vitamin A from the liver. Zinc is an
important co-factor in getting vitamin A to the retina. However, it must be
understood that zinc in excess of 25 milligrams may lead to deficiency of
copper, elevation of LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, cholesterol imbalance—all
these may cause further damage to the retina. Adequate zinc, but not too much,
enhances the retina health.
Glutathione is
another powerful antioxidant to protect retinal cells from ultra-violet-A and
ultra-violet-B damage. Selenium and riboflavin stimulate the
production of glutathione.
Omega-3 fats can improve vision. However, because they can also cause lipid peroxidation
(that is, they turn rancid on exposure to sunlight), you need more
antioxidants.
Nutrition should also include bioflavonoids, which are
plant pigments with protective properties against sunlight damage. Foods that
are rich in bioflavonoids include red onions, red grapes, cherries, and citrus
fruits.
In short, your diet plays a
pivotal role in retina health, and hence the prevention of macular
degeneration.
In addition to diet, give up nicotine
totally. Reduce your daily intake of caffeine—if you must drink coffee—because
it not only interrupts with retinal blood flow but also increases blood
pressure, which is bad for the retina.
Aspirin is a blood thinner. It may benefit blood vessel diseases and
prevents blockages of oxygen to the brain. However, too much aspirin may also cause
retinal bleeding, which impairs retinal health.
Macular degeneration is an eye
disease that can be prevented—or at least deferred if you live a healthy
lifestyle. Aging is not the cause of degeneration. Retinal disease is a result
of accumulative damage to the retina due to neglect, or abuse, or both.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
No comments:
Post a Comment