Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the age 65 and over group in both the United States and the United Kingdom. One in six Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 will be affected which increases to one in four between the ages of 64 and 74. Over the age of 75 one in three will be affected. Each year 1.2 million people of the estimated 12 million people with macular degeneration will have severe loss of central vision. What is macular degeneration The macular portion of the retina is where central vision occurs. This is the vision that allows us basically to see. This portion of the retina is mostly populated with cone cells, which are the cells that allow us to read, write and generally see things when there is sufficient light. The rod cells populate the rest of the retina and are what we see with in darkness. The cone portion of the retina has one of the highest metabolic rates of any group of cells in the body and like the brain, needs a constant supply of nutrients to maintain good vision. Anything that compromises blood flow to these cells can cause loss of function of these cells ie macular degeneration. Symptoms Because the brain is very good at filling in the visual picture, the early loss of function of the macular cone cells may go unnoticed. This means that in the early stages most people with macular degeneration don't know they have it. By the time it is usually diagnosed, it can be very advanced with considerable loss of visual acuity / central vision. Testing If you are concerned about macular degeneration a visit to your local ophthalmologist might be in order. Also, by visiting the site below you can test yourself with the Amsler grid. This is a test used to determine if there is any significant compromise in central vision. To do this follow the link below: http://www.eyesight.org/Eye_Test/eye_test.html Risk factors Macular degeneration is age related as noted above and the older you are, the more at risk you are. Race also factors in here as it is more common in whites but does occur in all races. It is more common in those who are farsighted. Now for some risk factors over which we all have some control. Smoking High blood pressure Vascular disease High intake of saturated fat and cholesterol High blood cholesterol level Exposure to sunlight ************* Summary To lower your risk for macular degeneration: Stop smoking Work to decrease your blood pressure. Please see the last two newsletters on blood pressure to see what lifestyle changes you can make to help lower your blood pressure. If you would like to review these articles they are both posted on this site or visit Dr. Mericle's blog (the link is in the resource box at the bottom of this article). Always wear sunglasses with good UV protection when you are outside and always be careful to never look into direct sunlight. Dietary Modification A low cholestrol, low fat and low or NO sugar diet which is high in green leafy vegetables and foods that are high in vitamins E and C and Lutien, which is an antioxidant found in high quantities in spinach, kale and other dark green leafy vegetables, is recommended. The leading causes of vascular diseases here in America are sugar ingestion (adult onset diabetes) and animal protein ingestion (coronary artery disease and stroke). The MericleDiet The MericleDiet is the only diet today that meets or exceeds these requirements. It makes the transition away from sugar and animal products as easy as it can be and will supply your retina with all the dark leafy green vegetables and energy from complex carbohydrates that it needs. It will lower your risk of adult onset diabetes mellitus and the ongoing vascular destruction associated with diabetes and keep your larger arteries more healthy by keeping your saturated fat and cholesterol levels low. Reference: http://www.Eyesight.org Thank you for your time. Copyright John Mericle M.D. 2005 All Rights Reserved |
