BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration

Subject: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 04:48 PM

In finding this for one of my sisters, after another of them heard it on tv news, it occurred to me that there may be Mudcatters who would be interested, too:

Denver (KCNC) Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in America, and it has no cure. But a physician in Denver is using a new therapy which is helping some patients regain their sight.
Macular degeneration mainly affects people over 60.
"It is a terrible diagnosis," NEWS4's Dr. Dave Hnida reports. "You're going blind, and told there's nothing that can be done."

A new therapy that uses a small electric current looks like it can slow down, and in some cases even reverse, macular degeneration.
Four years ago, patient Beverly Anders noticed when she was reading that the words were blurred and jagged. Within months, those words disappeared completely. Anders had macular degeneration, a disease that she was told there is no cure for. With the diagnosis come white specks in the middle of the eye that are not supposed to be there. They are called drusen -- a buildup of toxins in the center of the eye. When you get a buildup of drusen in the center of the eye -- or the macula -- vision deteriorates.

"You can't see anything straight in front of you," Hnida said. "(There's) no reading, no driving and no recognizing a face."

"It's devastating for a lot of people," physician Dr. Terry Grossman said.

Anders is trying a new treatment that within a few months not just slowed down her vision loss, but actually improved her vision -- something other doctors said was impossible. Grossman uses a system called microcurrent stimulation. The treatment that can be done at home, and as part of the procedure patients wear goggles that have holes in them so they can see while they wear them for an hour a day.
Anders does the treatments at home, but also comes in regularly for high doses of IV vitamins and minerals to nourish the part of the eye that's diseased.

For Anders, the treatment has been nothing short of a miracle.
She went from legally blind to seeing well enough to get a new drivers license. Anders believes she will get even better.
"I'm going for full clearance -- full vision," she told NEWS4.
The procedure involves dry macular degeneration, according to Hnida.

Additional Resources:

If you would like to know more about this treatment, you can call Dr. Terry Grossman's office at [phone].
His office is located in Wheat Ridge.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Mudlark
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 05:36 PM

Thanks, Kat, for this valuable info. I have m.d. in my left eye, not so advanced I can't see or drive, but troublesome (and scary if it gets worse and/or appears in right eye). As soon as I was diagnosed I started taking lutein and zinc, a combination that has proven in tests to be helpful in halting, slowing, or stopping progression, and even in some cases (not mine, unfortunately) has even improved eyesight. Macrocurrent stimulation sounds like an important adjunct.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 05:38 PM

I see this guy wrote a book called "The Baby Boomers' Guide to Living Forever"...

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Burke
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 09:57 PM

Thanks for the head's up. I'm currently being monitored for MD. My macula is somewhat damaged, but it may be from a past trauma, not degenerating.

There's new vitamin combinations being sold for vision, that have been found in some case to help slow the process. My eye doctor gave me literature on it. When I looked at the details, it's really the basic anti-oxidant supplement x 2. Betacarotene, vitamins E & C.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: mack/misophist
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 11:59 PM

It's a damn shame that the only person I know with MD is now completely blind.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 07:56 AM

There have been some articles in New Scientist in the past year referring to research one did mention several problems including MD. One involves laser treatment and was discovered while researching into damge from laser weaponry. I know its offensive use is banned but there are degrees of laser weapons - even laser sights can cause damage. In retinis pigmentosa it was shown to promote blood vessel growth and thus halt and sometimes reverse the degredation.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: mg
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 10:30 PM

I swear I have read something recently...bilberry? Cranberry? Wouldn't hurt to do a medline search. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 10:34 PM

Bilberry sounds right, if I remember correctly, mary. I am sure it is one of the ones which can be helpful for eyesight, but of course, one should find out for themselves.:-) Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: mg
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:20 PM

here is some;thing from Dr. Mercola..I believe he is a naturopath..has a nice newsletter and a searchable archive..he seems knowledgeable to me..

http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/7/visual_degeneration.htm

Just do a google search under cranberry and macular degeneration ..also bilberry

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Mudlark
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:54 PM

Bilberry was used by the RAF in WW2, and studies were done showing that it improved night vision. But my doc says they were very small samples and not definitive. On the other hand, there are not side effects, so worth a try. I tried for a year and didn't see any improvement.

Laser treatment is a 2-edged sword. It may halt degredation, but the process itself worsens the sight you do have. So depends on how fast the disease is progressing as to whether this is a reasonable option.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 10:18 AM

I'm wasn't talking about optic adjustment with lasers - the research I read was a few years from general use and in the hands of the military. But compared to any proven treatment it must be worth watching (no pun was inteneded but I will take any plaudits - if any).

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: gnu
Date: 01 May 09 - 01:20 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 May 09 - 01:30 PM

Thanks, kat. We will be sure that Tami passes this on to Kathy. She has beens teadily losing her sight for months now.
M

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: bobad
Date: 01 May 09 - 02:13 PM

Many studies have found benefits from LUTEIN and ZEAXANTHIN for macular degeneration. Some info HERE

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 May 09 - 02:54 PM

My mother and one sister developed macular degeneration. It was a sad thing- the only good thing is that the person never goes totally blind, never lives in a dark world. There is always some light that reaches the eyes.

I have pictures I took of my mother that show her looking off into space rather than at the camera. In reality it was the only way she could 'see'.

At the ophthalmologist's I always have them check to see if my eyes are showing any such indication. So far, so good.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: ranger1
Date: 01 May 09 - 06:58 PM

Does anyone know if this is wet or dry macular degeneration? There's a difference...

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: gnu
Date: 01 May 09 - 07:01 PM

Wet. The bleeding into the eye.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: ranger1
Date: 01 May 09 - 07:04 PM

Then it won't help Kathy. She's got the dry kind. Poop!

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 May 09 - 07:19 PM

Not so fast. Wait, Tami!

From my initial posting: The procedure involves dry macular degeneration, according to Hnida.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: sian, west wales
Date: 02 May 09 - 01:33 PM

My mother is now registered blind due to mac but she still has a fair bit of sight because, for some strange reasons, one of the 4 early pioneers of treatment has his office a few blocks from her. She's had most of the advanced treatments as soon as they've come available. In actual fact, the most recent injections (can't remember the name) have even improved her sight somewhat. Thank heavens she was also a teacher in Ontario; the Women's Teachers Federation had a crackin' good health scheme, on top of the Provincial scheme, so they've paid for some quite pricey jabs.

I now hear - just the week before last - that there's been some new stem cell research that offers hope of actually turning the degeneration back. I think it's been developed by some British scientists and the news item was that a big pharmaceutical firm has now taken it on for development as a commercial, and available, proposition. Probably too late for my mother but not for people from here on.

As an aside, macular degeneration is considered to be a smoking-related condition apparently. My mother never smoked a cigarette in her life. My father was a 2 pack a day man, however. Anyone who wants to make me very cross just has to say that there's no such thing as passive smoking effects ...

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: bobad
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 09:16 PM

Oily fish 'can halt eye disease'

People with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) should eat oily fish at least twice a week to keep their eye disease at bay, say scientists.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in fish like mackerel and salmon appear to slow or even halt the progress of both early and late stage disease.

The researchers base their findings on almost 3,000 people taking part in a trial of vitamins and supplements.

The findings are published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8088860.stm

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Alice
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 10:04 PM

I second the recommendation about
LUTEIN and ZEAXANTHIN
combined, that bobad posted.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Jun 09 - 11:52 PM

Two types of macular degeneration, wet and dry.
See Mayo Clinic articles. They are trying a new injectable drug therapy aimed in preserving current eyesight (dry degeneration).

Go to http://www.mayoclinic.com and look under letter 'M'.

Antioxidants may help protect cells from oxygen damage, also zinc and vitamin supplements are discussed under Treatment and Drugs.

Subject: RE: BS: Possible hope for macular degeneration
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 09 Jun 09 - 03:08 AM

My ex-mother-in-law, aged 94, has age related MD. She manages incredibly well, but that's helped because she lives with us, and she won't ever give in to anything. She can see the TV if she sits with it next to her nose, bless her...and she reads everything through a brightly lit magnifying glass, which enables her to even still read newspapers.

I've a dear friend who has the other type of MD, and he's had it since his 30's.

One of the elderly ladies I look after has the first type I mentioned, but it's been caught really early on, so she's having a course of injections for it, which it's hoped, will stop it from degenerating further. That option wasn't available for Vi, so Bunty, even at 88, is already benefitting from the progress they're making with MD.

It'll be wonderful when they can cure this completely.