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THE MAGNIFIER Issue #19, March 10, 2004
Newsletter from the Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 531313 Henderson, NV 89053
http://www.eyesight.org
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American Academy of Ophthalmology:
Macular degeneration appears to be hereditary, in most cases. Certain factors other than hereditary seem to play a role in the development of the disease:
… Uncontrolled high blood pressure
… Smoking, including second-hand smoke
… Over-exposure to UV-rays
… Poor diet
Despite the fact that macular degeneration can cause visual impairment, low vision aids have been
developed to assist people with the disease. Two such devices are available on http://www.optogon.com .
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Washington Post
Coping With Challenges
"Marion Reh Gurfein's age-related macular degeneration has stolen some
of her eyesight but not her sharp wit. Instead of cursing her fate or her difficulty playing piano or using a computer, the former watercolor artist from Crystal City says she laughs and compensates as best she can with
technology: audio books and her low vision device, which enlarges newspaper print. And, oh yes, she writes poems poking fun at her condition. Like the one she calls "Macular Mayhem":
"I feel
my life is all a blur I cannot tell a him from her. I once approached a garbage pail And thought it an attractive male. And since I am a friendly soul I wave and smile at every pole. And this is just the normal state Of a macular
degenerate."
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Johns Hopkins University
Vitamin E Treatment of MD January 23, 2004
"Supplementation containing Vitamin E provides an exciting preventive
measure for age-related macular degeneration, a professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University has concluded after taking part in a major ongoing research effort.
"There are no other proven options for early
intervention," Dr. Susan Bressler says in the February edition of the Johns Hopkins medical letter, Health After 50."
"Vitamin E intake of 400 milligrams, together with Vitamin C, beta carotene, and small
amounts of zinc and copper oxides, reduces the likelihood of disease progression by 25% in patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration or AMD, the research has determined."
"Supplementation with the
formulation also reduced the risk of vision loss by 19% over five years in these patients, the Johns Hopkins publication reported. See http://www.optogon.com for OPTOTABS.
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HIGHER TOTAL FAT INTAKE INCREASED THE RISK OF AMD
From the Archives of Opthalmology, December 2003
"Once again, Dr. Johnanna Seddon and her colleagues at Harvard have contributed to our understanding of the role food
plays in macular degeneration. She was one of the first researchers to broadly publish studies showing that what we eat can make a difference to our eyes. There is now a definite link. This study looked at fat,
transunsaturated fat, nuts and fish. You've heard this message before, but now it is confirmed. Higher total fat intake increased the risk of AMD progressing to the advanced form. Animal fat caused a 2-fold
increased risk. But higher vegetable fat showed an even higher risk!" "Saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and transunsaturated fats increased the likelihood of progression. Processed baked
goods, which are higher in some of these fats, increased the rate of AMD progression approximately 2-fold.
Higher intake of fish and nuts reduced the risk. With so few treatment options available for AMD, it's nice to
know that by modifying our diets we may be able to make a difference. Talk with your doctor about this and always keep in mind your overall health, other medical issues and prescription medications.
SuperFoods RX: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life, by Steven Pratt, M.D.
Pratt, an ophthalmologist who specializes in ocular plastic surgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif., says he became convinced of
the power of these basic foods when he saw the positive results of a few simple diet changes in his patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration.
"Whether you're trying to prevent cataracts, macular
degeneration, cancer, or cardiovascular disease, the same type of preventive dietary measures apply," he says. "The whole body is connected: a healthy heart equals a healthy eye and healthy skin. You'll hear about all
these special diets for special health needs, but really, the same diet and the same lifestyle choices prevent the same diseases. With rare exceptions, you don't need 20 different preventive modalities -- just one really good
diet." And that "one really good diet," Pratt says, should be founded on these "superfoods":
Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Oats
Oranges
Pumpkin
Salmon
Soy
Spinach
Tea (green or black)
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Yogurt
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GROUP TO SCREEN FOR BLINDNESS (FREE)
Published February 26, 2004 from Columbia Daily Tribune
Millions
of Americans unknowingly have one of three eye diseases that could blind them - diseases that could be detected in time to save at least some sight if they had regular eye exams. Now, the government has awarded Prevent
Blindness America a five-year grant to help fight ARMD by funding free screenings for older people around the country. For locations, go to http://www.preventblindness.org.
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MICROCURRENT STIMULATION BRINGS BENEFIT:
Charles Banks, Florida
Macular Degeneration vicitms are finding benefit by using microcurrent stimulation. Mr. Banks writes: "I have used the Microcurrent
Stimulator for the past six months. Two noticeable improvements have occurred the last three months of this period: First, I can recognize people's faces across the room up to 20 feet away. Second, my driving vision has improved so
that I can see clearly for great distances and my peripheral vision has greatly improved. Many thanks for your encouragement!"
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MDF was founded in 1992 by Edmund J. Aleksandrovich
(a victim of macular degeneration). It provides MD patients and their families with the information necessary to understand the disease, the latest news concerning ways to cope with the disease, and supports the efforts of
researchers to find a cure.
Contributions are appreciated and may be sent in care of the Macular Degeneration Research Fund, P.O. Box 531313, Henderson, NV 89053 or by visiting our website.
http://www.eyesight.org/Donations/donations.html
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Subscribers who wish to cancel their subscription or change their email address may visit:
http://www.eyesight.org/Newsletter/newsletter.html .
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