What is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is a loss nerve cells in the yellow center of vision.  With macular degeneration,  peripheral vision is maintained but central vision is lost.  As a result the you may lose the ability to read,  recognize faces, drive a car, see TV, etc. There are two types of macular degeneration.  

The first is the dry type which affects 90% of those with macular degeneration (MD).  In this condition small yellow flecks called drusen form in the underlying tissue.  Drusen are believe to form from a collection of waste products in the tissues. Drusen appear to break down the cells of the macula causing a loss and distortion of vision.   This can progress into the second type,  the wet type.

In the second type,  new blood vessels form in response to the tissue breakdown.  These vessels are fragile and tend to leak fluids causing further and rapid losses of vision.   

Symptoms:

1. Lines and edges (as doorways) appear wavy
2. Colors look faded
3. Text appears blurred or difficult to read
4. Distinct shapes are blurry
5. Dark or blank spots appear to block the center of your vision
6. A fog appears in the center of your vision

Causes:

1. Circulatory compromise is a major factor in macular degeneration.  Diabetics and Hypertensive patients are much more likely to develop this debilitating disease.
2. Free radicals damage from ultraviolet and short wave blue light from sunlight passing into the eye.. Free radicals are the byproducts of cellular metabolism.  Free radicals cause oxidation, and can damage healthy cells in the retina of your eyes. Free radical cell damage increases with health and environmental problems such as: smoking, weak immune systems and poor digestion.
3. Nutritional Deficiencies and Poor Digestion - Often sufferers of macular degeneration are deficient in some or many of the important nutrients including essential fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin, taurine, antioxidants, bioflavenoids, zinc, selenium and basics such as vitamin "c."
4. Heredity

Medications That Can Promote Macular Degeneration.

1. Plaquenil (hydroxchloriquine sulfate) is a drug routinely prescribed by rheumatologists for rheumatoid arthritis. It can cause permanent retinal damage.
2. Chloridine – a blood pressure medication.
3. All of the NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause vision damage.  Associated with the frequent use of these drug are:  retinal hemorrhages, cataracts and dry eyes. These drugs go by other names such as: aspirin, ibuprofen , ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, and naproxen . Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also cause problems

Allopathic Treatment (traditional medicine)

There is no truly successful medical treatment. Laser is often used for the wet type.  This is an attempt to stop the leakage by destroying those vessels which leak or the surrounding tissue.  The surrounding tissue (retina) may be destroyed by pan-retinal laser treatment to reduce the oxygen needs of the retina and attempt to make the growth of new vessels (to produce oxygen and nutrition) unnecessary.  BOTH treatments damage retinal tissue and cause vision loss.

Visudyne Therapy uses a dye injection that helps the laser target specific vessels and do less damage.  This may prove to be more successful but must be repeated frequently to control vision loss.  It is in no way a cure but may slow down vision loss.   In all cases,  the traditional medial approach should be complemented by the use of natural methods to enhance the bodies own healing systems.

Complementary - HolisticTreatment:  (This approach is offered with the allopathic approach especially when there is the danger of vision loss from currently compromised  leaky vessels).

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"CRITICAL" -  PRODUCTS ARE THOSE WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO GOOD RESULTS:

Critical: Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil  peach or orange flavor  is in liquid form. . Omega-3 fatty acids help improve circulation, integrity of blood vessels, proper brain functioning, flexibility and permeability of cell membranes, and helps protect the retina's photoreceptor cells. Recommended dosage is 1-2 teaspoonfuls once a day.
Critical: Essential Eye Care  - This is a multiple antioxidant formula  used as a preventive or therapeutic depending upon dosage.  For macular degeneration 3 caps / day  one with each meal.
Critical: Pure Focus™ - Lutein Sublingual Liquid has 800% more benefit than tablets or capsules. Can improve vision and prevent further loss due to Macular Degeneration and other eye diseases.  Recommended dosage  3 pumps per day under the tounge.
Critical: Primal Defense  a dietary supplement that helps improve the digestive system to better absorb nutrients and reduce inflammation. This is a unique probiotic with special soil organisms that help the body heal and absorb nutrients better.  Recommended dosage is to start with one capsule daily and increase one capsule per week until taking 5 per day.  Continue for 3 months and then taper in a similar fashion to 2 per day.
Critical: Radical Fruits - antioxidant blend.  Contains Certified Organic Antioxidant-Rich Fruit Extracts. Helps Fight Free Radicals in the body. More Potent than Grape Seed Extract, Green Tea, and Pycnogenol
Critical: Perfect Food: Over 45 Nutrient Dense Superfoods. More Green Foods per Serving than any other Super Green Food. Nutritional Equivalent of 5-10 Servings of Vegetables. Certified Organic Greens, Grains and Seeds
Critical: Goatien™ IG is the only product on the market containing goat's milk colostrum. GOATEIN™ IG contains immunoglobulins, peptides and growth factors. GOATEIN™ IG goats are not fed pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones or antibiotics 
Critical: Retinal Stimulation   This is very powerful adaptation of technology that is currently used to enhance healing of problems in the muscles, joints, tendons, and   broken bones. This technology is an "off label use"* and appears to be of significant value in helping macular degeneration. *Off Label Use means that this proven technology has worked well and been approved for healing in other areas of the body and as of this date has been tested in clinical environments only for macular degeneration.  Click here for Research into microstim technology. This document requires an Adobe Pdf Viewer. Download the viewer here if you need one!
Critical: Enhance Your Bodies Healing.  This is a MUST for macular degeneration.  See the LifeStyle changes listed below for what to START and what to STOP.  NO program to treat macular degeneration can succeed without these changes.  Macular degeneration is a SYMPTOM of a systemic (whole body) health failure.

"HELPFUL"  PRODUCTS - ARE THOSE WHICH USUALLY ENHANCE THERAPY

Helpful: RejuVeinate:  From Physiologics, is a unique formula that combines the antioxidant vitamin C with the herbs horse chestnut, butcher's broom, bilberry, and the bioflavonoid hesperidin – all of which maximize vascular integrity.
Helpful:  Gingko Biloba Liquid Extract manufactured by Gaia Herbs is in liquid form, and taken by dropper. According to a double blind study (see Research section for more details), Gingko Biloba may be helpful for those with macular degeneration. Gingko Biloba, among other benefits, improves circulation of blood to the brain and extremities.

LifeStyle Changes

    Things To Start: (These Are Critical!)

1. Daily Aerobics (walking, bike riding etc) to enhance circulation ---VERY IMPORTANT!
2. Organice Foods: Purchase as much organic foods as possible as the toxic chemicals used as pesticide in vegetables or the hormones and antibiotics in meats can damage the bodies ability to absorb and use nutrients.
3. Avoid ALL preservatives: Preservatives in foods (jarred, canned, dried) damage the symbiotic bacteria essential for our bodies to properly digest and absorb foods.

    Things To STOP

1. Stop drinking caffeine and sodas, avoid aspartame in any form.  Avoid any modified oils and fats such as Hydrogenated oils.  
2. STOP smoking in any form as it damages eye tissues and is a major cause of macular degeneration.
3. Avoid MSG in all foods.
4. Limit Alcohol intake.
5. If you are taking allopathic medications,  try to eliminate as many as possible with your doctors help!
6. Aerobic exercise is essential.  Consider 1 hours exercise 3 - 5 days a week  This may be walking,  jogging or any other form that enhances circulation.
7. Stress reduction is very helpful.  Consider meditation,  Yoga  or even simply watching videos such as comedies, before sleep.