| Vision problems due to the onset of macular | | | | degeneration treatments. Patients in the initial |
| degeneration are quite prevalent, especially in the | | | | onset stages of this condition sometimes benefit |
| elderly. Macular degeneration occurs when the | | | | from taking vitamins C, E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin |
| macula, located in the central portion of the retina | | | | and eating foods that are high in beta-carotenes, |
| in the eye, becomes weakened or damaged. The | | | | such as dark green leafy vegetables, corn and |
| result is a loss of central vision. Central vision is | | | | peas. |
| used to read and drive, so it is crucial to save as | | | | Another macular degeneration treatment can be |
| much of a patient's vision as possible as soon as | | | | found in cholesterol reducing drugs. People in the |
| possible. Although this medical condition has no | | | | early stages of this medical condition often |
| cure at this time, there are some promising new | | | | develop drusen, or yellow deposits, in the macula. |
| macular degeneration treatments that have | | | | The development and increase in the number of |
| shown to alleviate and slow down some of the | | | | drusen seems to be related to the patient's |
| symptoms of age-related macular degeneration. | | | | cholesterol level, with drusen more prevalent in |
| There is a range of vision loss that can occur | | | | those with higher cholesterol. Medications, such as |
| depending on the severity and type of | | | | statins, which reduce cholesterol, and aspirin, which |
| age-related macular degeneration a patient has. | | | | reduces inflammation, may have a significant |
| Because it affects the macula located in the | | | | impact on reducing the size and number of drusen |
| center of the retina, a patient's peripheral vision is | | | | in the macula and thus lessen the chances of |
| usually not adversely affected by the condition. | | | | someone developing age-related macular |
| With the onset of the condition, a patient's vision | | | | degeneration. |
| might still be quite good, but the situation can | | | | A couple of wet advanced macular degeneration |
| worsen over time. There are two different types | | | | treatments, Macugen and Lucentis, have been |
| of age-related macular degeneration that often | | | | approved by the FDA. Macugen is useful because |
| result in the greatest loss of central vision, and | | | | it helps to reduce the number of excessive blood |
| they are called wet and dry. The dry form of | | | | vessels that can grow under the retina. These |
| advanced macular degeneration is caused by the | | | | can become inflamed and eventually burst, causing |
| reduction of the rods and cones located in the | | | | vision problems. Lucentis also reduces the growth |
| retina, while wet advanced macular degeneration | | | | of too many blood vessels. Lucentis is |
| occurs due to leakage of excessive blood vessels | | | | administered as an injection under the eye, and |
| and the resulting scarring under the macula. | | | | offers a great new treatment option for some |
| One thing that retinal specialists might tell their | | | | patients with these kinds of vision problems. |
| patients with macular degeneration is to take | | | | The future is looking brighter with these emerging |
| certain vitamins as part of a spectrum of macular | | | | new macular degeneration treatments. |