Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
For anyone 50 years old or better, the thought of developing age-related macular degeneration, a disease of the eye’s retina that can lead to tunnel vision and eventual blindness, is frightening. But the good news is that this condition can be slowed down or completely stopped if it is treated early.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that typically affects older adults. Approximately 25 per cent of those 65 years and more have signs of AMD. The condition results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina. The disease can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision may remain to allow other activities of daily life, such as walking and shopping.There are two forms of AMD, known as “dry” and “wet.” In the dry form, cellular debris called drusen accumulates behind the retina. In the wet form, which is more severe, blood vessels grow behind the retina. In both forms, the retina can become detached.AMD can progress quickly and patients who are not closely monitored by a physician can lose their sight rapidly. A genetic component means that there is a 50 per cent chance that someone with AMD inherited risk factors from their parents. One in five of these individuals will lose vision as they age. Early detection and treatment can prevent AMD, but most patients don’t see an eye doctor until they have some vision loss. By then, it is too late.As Dr. Paul Chris, Executive Director of the Vision Institute of Canada, points out, research suggests that AMD may be treated and its progress halted with certain vitamins. Results of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), reported in the Archives of Ophthalmology (October 2001)found that people at high risk of developing advanced AMD lowered their risk by about 25 per cent when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc.“The vitamin formula does not prevent macular degeneration, but it can reduce its progress,” says Dr. Chris, an optometrist with a special interest in nutrition. He points out that people in their 60s do not absorb nutrients the way they did when they were younger. However, he says, the particular combination of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants recommended, “Almost changes from week to week.”However, for those who believe they have symptoms, visit an eye specialist for an AMD test before running out to spend a bundle on vitamins and minerals, cautions Dr. David Maberley, an ophthalmologist with the University of B.C.’s Centre for Macular Research. High doses of these substances can cause side-effects, particularly in smokers, who may be at increased risk for lung cancer. Men who consume high doses of these vitamins may also increase their risk of prostate problems.Dr. Maberley also notes new genetic tests are available at a cost of several hundred dollars for close relatives of AMD patients who are concerned about their prospects.For more information, visit www.macularisk.com