Twitter Facebook Feed

Macular Degeneration Treatment

Macular degeneration treatment includes vitamins, laser therapy, medication, and visual aids. Most cases of macular degeneration occur in people over 60 years old. The disease can lead to significant vision loss but rarely causes complete blindness. Recommended vitamins for macular degeneration include Vitamin C and E. Copper, zinc, and beta-carotene are important minerals and supplements that can decrease the risk of vision loss. An eye doctor can usually detect the disease by doing a routine eye examination. The presence of yellow deposits on the retina is one obvious sign of the illness. Early diagnosis can lead to treatment that will reduce its severity. The disease is primarily inherited and risk factors include age, race, high blood pressure, smoking, vascular disease, too much sunlight, high cholesterol, and often occurs in people who are farsighted. Symptoms may include changes in vision involving blurriness, diminished colors, dark areas, and lines appearing distorted.

There is no cure for the disease but there are treatments that can slow the deterioration. Macular degeneration treatment is dependent upon the patient reporting any changes in vision promptly to an ophthalmologist. Understanding the disease and the symptoms associated with it can help the patient to know about changes that need a doctor's attention. The central part of the retina is the macula. Deterioration of the macula distorts images that the eye transmits to the brain. The less severe form of the disease results in degeneration and thinning of the nerve tissue. The more severe form involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels that leak blood on the retina causing cells to die. Treatment with laser therapy can target the abnormal blood vessels by destroying them. Another type of therapy that is used with a laser is caused photodynamic. Photodynamic laser therapy uses a drug that is absorbed by abnormal blood vessels and the cold laser beam activates the drug thus affecting the vessels that are causing the damage to vision.

Low visual aids can enhance the vision of a person with the disease by using special lenses that produce enlarge images. In addition to using visual aids vitamins for macular degeneration can help a person who is not past the advanced stage of the disease. Frequent eye exams can help an ophthalmologist to determine if treatment is successful or if a more severe form of the disease is emerging. Because abnormal blood vessels can emerge after treatment it is very important that the patient lets the doctor know immediately if there are any changes in vision.

For future considerations there are some possible treatments on the horizon. One of the considerations is called submacular surgery. This procedure would involve surgically removing abnormal blood vessels. Another macular degeneration treatment is called retinal translocation. Retinal translocation involves the rotation of the macular center moving it to a healthy area of the retina then a laser is used to treat the abnormal blood vessels that were located underneath the macula. Even after successful treatment it is possible for the condition to reoccur, for abnormal blood vessels to grow back.

Eating a balanced and healthy diet that includes lots of green vegetables can help to keep eyes healthy even after the onset of macular degeneration and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help to slow degeneration. The best way to get vitamins for macular degeneration is through eating the foods that contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, copper, zinc, and beta carotene. Some of these foods are parsley, beets, cabbage, spinach, celery, kale, collard greens, wheat grasses, apples, grapes, and carrots. In addition, the patient should eliminate some items from the diet that could make the disease worse.

Smoking cigarettes can cause a toxin in the retina so a patient with the disease should quit smoking immediately. Some other substances to eliminate from the diet is soda and caffeine. Eliminate fried foods and ones high in saturated fat or cholesterol. Alcohol consumption should be limited to one drink a day or less. Macular degeneration treatment should include exercise and minimizing stress and anxiety. One of the best ways to combat the stress of an illness is to exercise daily and to pray daily. "Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8)

Some other practices that may help someone with the disease is to wear sunglasses with ultraviolet ray protection, avoid eye stress, read with a halogen light to minimize glare and increase the level of lighting. In addition, find supplements and vitamins for macular degeneration that are beneficial for the disease and take them everyday. Supplements that contain antioxidants as well as zinc will benefit the patient with the disease. Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage that is caused by aging. Foods high in antioxidants include but are not limited to blueberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts, red bell peppers, squash, oranges, and peaches.

People who have been diagnosed with the disease should consider counseling to help them to cope with reduced vision and depression that may accompany the illness. Macular degeneration treatment may be disheartening if it does not seem to help with the symptoms. Patients who have support from others do much better in coping with the disease that those who do not. A few other things to consider include making changes in the home to help with vision loss and to use visual aids as much as possible. Vision problems can make it difficult to manage a household so a patient may want to get someone to come in to help with cleaning and cooking. Counseling and rehabilitation can provide some ways to help a patient manage with the many aspects of home and work life.

0 коммент.:

Отправить комментарий