Macular Degeneration Treatment - What are Your Options and How Do They Work?
Posted: Friday, January 21, 2011
by Leslie Degner
Pool Fun for Everyone
The treatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD) depends on what type of AMD a person has. The two main types are dry AMD and wet AMD. The dry form is the most common type and normally causes less loss of central vision than the wet form.
Dry Macular Degeneration Treatment
1. Control Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a serious condition that by itself does not have symptoms. People can have high blood pressure for years and not know it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure causes damage to the kidneys, blood vessels, the heart and yes, the eyes.
2. Quit Smoking
Smoking impairs the body’s circulation, decreasing the efficiency of the retinal blood vessels. If you are a smoker, the best thing you can do for your eyes is to quit smoking.
3. Exercise
Macular degeneration develops because there is a problem with getting oxygen rich blood to the macula and removing built up waste. Cardiovascular exercise contributes to the health of our blood vessels - including the eys. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin found those with an active lifestyle were 70% less likely to develop macular degeneration than those who did little or no exercise.
4. Macular Degeneration Diet
Include foods that are high in antioxidants, healthy fats, and are anti-inflammatory. Also eliminate foods that lead to chronic inflammation or unhealthy blood vessels.
Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment
This form of AMD causes a more sudden and severe loss of central vision. Wet AMD gets its name from the fragile and leaking blood vessels in the choroid layer of the retina. This fluid lifts the surface of the macula causing straight lines to appear wavy and destroys the photoreceptor cells. The purpose of these treatments is not to cure the disease but rather to slow the progression of the leaking blood vessels. The most common forms of treatment include:
1. Visudyne Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
PDT uses a laser after a person has been injected with a light-sensitive medicine called verteporfin or visudyne medication. It works by destroying abnormal blood vessels in the retina and may help slow the progression of wet macular degeneration.
2. Anti-VEGF Therapy
Anti-VEGF drugs is a medication that blocks VEGF - vascular endothelial growth factor. This factor promotes the development of the leaky, immature blood vessels. So the anti-VEGF inhibits the growth of new blood vessels. They are given by injections directly into the eye.
Natural Eye Care
Complementary or alternative therapy can is also be used for age related macular degeneration treatment. Some of these treatments are:
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique based on the principle that there are energetic pathways, or channels, throughout the body that influence our internal organs and other parts of our body. Energy from these pathways comes to the surface at various points on the body, identified as acupoints. Each of these points serves then as a channel or tunnel to the internal parts of our body. Extremely fine gauge needles are inserted at these acupoints, stimulating and activating the body’s natural healing abilities.
Patients with wet and dry macular degeneration have used acupuncture as a macular degeneration treatment.
2. Microcurrent Stimulation
Microcurrent stimulation delivers low-intensity electricity to the eye area with the idea that it will improve circulation to the retina providing it with vital nutrients and assisting in the removal of harmful wast products.
Macular Degeneration Research
There are lots of clinical trials worldwide that are looking at combining existing macular degeneration treatments, trying new medications, and studying the role of genetics and nutrition. Macular degeneration clinical trials must go through several phases before they can be offered to the public. To participate in a macular degeneration study, the participant must meet the study eligibility criteria.
For a more thorough explanation of treatments that are now available and in clinical trials for macular degeneration go to:
www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/macular-degeneration-treatment.html
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