| Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the | | | | legally blind. |
| #1 cause of blindness among Senior Citizens. | | | | There is no medical treatment available for Dry |
| Because the Baby Boomers are now becoming | | | | ARMD, but in 1999 A National Eye Institute study |
| seniors, vision loss from macular degeneration is a | | | | (AREDS) indicated that certain nutrients such as |
| growing problem. About 1.75 million Americans | | | | beta-carotene (vitamin A) and vitamins C and E |
| have ARMD now and it's projected that it might | | | | help prevent or slow progression of dry macular |
| affect 3 million Americans by 2020. Approximately | | | | degeneration by up to 25%. There are several |
| 300,000 will become legally blind. | | | | brands of AREDS formula supplements available |
| Although anyone can have it, ARMD occurs most | | | | without a prescription. Some varieties also include |
| often in Caucasian females over age 65. Smoking | | | | lutein, an antioxidant found in green leafy |
| increases the risk 6 times and living with a | | | | vegetables, which has been shown to possibly |
| smoker doubles your risk. Being overweight also | | | | slow the progress of ARMD. |
| can double your risk. Another big risk factor is the | | | | But there might be a problem with AREDS |
| excessive light exposure that surfers, sailors, | | | | supplements. Physicians have noted that individuals |
| farm workers, etc are exposed to. | | | | that have a diet rich in yellow, orange and red |
| Most of our retina (the light sensitive tissue inside | | | | fruits and vegetables have a decreased incidence |
| the eye) has light sensing cells called "rods". They | | | | of cancer. These foods contain high |
| are very sensitive at light detection but not very | | | | concentrations of beta-carotene. In a large study |
| sensitive to details. The macula is the 3/16" area | | | | (CARET) in 1992, individuals were placed on |
| of the central retina with light sensing cells called | | | | beta-carotene supplements to see if that would |
| "cones". They are very sensitive to visual detail | | | | reduce the cancer incidence. The study was |
| and color perception. The macula supplies the | | | | halted prematurely 4 years later because the |
| straight-ahead vision. In macular degeneration the | | | | study participants had a 28% higher incidence of |
| macular cells are damaged and central | | | | lung cancer, and a 17% increase in death from |
| straight-ahead vision becomes blurred or distorted. | | | | any cause. Smokers, ex-smokers and others at |
| ARMD sometimes begins with a build-up of cellular | | | | risk for lung cancer should not take beta-carotene |
| waste products in the cone cells called drusen. | | | | supplements, but should increase their dietary |
| Also there may be a change in the amount of | | | | intake of beta-carotene rich fruits and vegetables. |
| pigmentation in the cell (like the "age-spots" on our | | | | Phase two of the AREDS study began in 2008. It |
| skin with aging). This is referred to as "Dry | | | | is trying to determine if omega-3 supplements |
| ARMD". Over time vision slowly worsens and over | | | | have a protective effect against ARMD. The |
| many years may lead to significant vision | | | | study is not due to be completed until 2012, but |
| problems. Ten percent of these patients progress | | | | most researchers think that omega-3 will be |
| to "Wet ARMD" in which new blood vessels grow | | | | shown to be beneficial. If I had macular |
| in below the macula and then leak blood into the | | | | degeneration, or it was in my family history, I |
| macula. The resulting scarring leaves areas of the | | | | would take a supplement containing Omega-3, as |
| macula that are blind. Many of these patients are | | | | well as vitamins C and E, but not vitamin A. |