Only those patients with intermediate to advanced forms of AMD should be taking the high-dose multivitamin formula. Ask your doctor if you should be taking this vitamin supplement.
Is it safe to take high doses of vitamin E?
AREDS researchers say it is unclear if the possible increased risk associated with very high doses - 500IU to 2000IU - of vitamin E applies to people taking 400IU. An increased risk of mortality was not found among those taking about 400IU of vitamin E.
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements has a fact sheet on vitamin E that summarizes the research on vitamin E and different chronic diseases.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Will vitamins make my vision better?
Will vitamins make my vision better?
Vitamin therapy for AMD will help slow the progression of AMD. Vitamins are not a cure for AMD and will not give back any vision that has already been lost.
Should everyone with AMD be taking high-dose vitamins?
Only those patients with intermediate to advanced forms of AMD should be taking the high-dose multivitamin formula. Ask your doctor if you should be taking this vitamin supplement.
Vitamin therapy for AMD will help slow the progression of AMD. Vitamins are not a cure for AMD and will not give back any vision that has already been lost.
Should everyone with AMD be taking high-dose vitamins?
Only those patients with intermediate to advanced forms of AMD should be taking the high-dose multivitamin formula. Ask your doctor if you should be taking this vitamin supplement.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Vitamins and AMD
Are vitamins helpful for AMD?
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that taking high-dose anti-oxidant vitamins and zinc significantly slowed the rate of progression of vision loss in patients who had more advanced forms of AMD.
AREDS II is an ongoing study to understand the role of certain other vitamins. More information
What vitamins should I take?
The following vitamin combination was proven effective in the AREDS study:
* Vitamin C, 500 mg
* Vitamin E, 400 IU
* Beta-Carotene, 15 mg
* Zinc, as zinc oxide, 80 mg
* Copper, as cupric oxide, 2 mg
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that taking high-dose anti-oxidant vitamins and zinc significantly slowed the rate of progression of vision loss in patients who had more advanced forms of AMD.
AREDS II is an ongoing study to understand the role of certain other vitamins. More information
What vitamins should I take?
The following vitamin combination was proven effective in the AREDS study:
* Vitamin C, 500 mg
* Vitamin E, 400 IU
* Beta-Carotene, 15 mg
* Zinc, as zinc oxide, 80 mg
* Copper, as cupric oxide, 2 mg
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Vision Loss from Macular Degeneration
By Jacob Teitelbaum, MD on January 30, 2009 in Complementary Medicine
Does the center of your visual field seemed blurred?
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the most common cause of age related vision loss (besides needing reading glasses). Fortunately, natural treatments are very helpful for both prevention and treatment.
BACKGROUND
The macula is in the central part of the retina that is used for more detailed vision, so it tends to affect the center of our visual field. As it has the largest concentration of cells, it also needs more oxygen then the rest of the retina. ARMD is a degenerative condition of the macula. It is the most common cause of vision loss in the United States in those 50 or older, and increases with age. ARMD is caused by hardening of the arteries that nourish the retina. Fortunately, macular degeneration does not cause total blindness since it does not affect the peripheral vision.
There are 2 types of ARMD:
Wet ARMD
Around 10% of cases are called "Wet" ARMD, as new, but fragile, blood vessels try to regrow in to support the macula. These fragile new vessels sometimes leak (hence the name "Wet") causing rapid vision loss in the center of 1 eye.
Dry ARMD
The other 90% of cases are called "Dry" ARMD, and these have a very gradual progression.
PREVENTION and TREATMENT
A number of studies have shown that good nutrition can slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration. For example, it has been proven that people with diets high in antioxidant containing fruits and vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables and colorful berries) have a lower incidence of macular degeneration. This is associated with high levels of the nutrient flavonoids, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin (both found in egg yolks), and lycopene (in tomatoes). In fact, those with high levels of these nutrients had only half the risk of ARMD. Fish oils and nuts were also very protective. Red wine is protective, but beer can worsen ARMD.
Research suggests that a mix of nutrients is more effective than individual ones for ARMD. I recommend a product called "Ocudyne II" capsules by Nutricology (easily found in many online shops) along with:
* Vitamin C 1,000 mg 2-3x day
* Vitamin E (must be natural and mixed tocopherols) 600 units/day
* Selenium 200 mcg a day
* Ginkgo Biloba (standardized to 24%) 40-80 mg 3x day
* Bilberry extract (25% extract) 40-80 mg 3x day
* Zinc 25-50 mg a day
* Eat fish (especially tuna or salmon at least 2x week) ot take fish oil
Other helpful tips include:
* Protect your eyes with sunglasses that have UV protection. Ultraviolet rays are believed to cause damage to the pigment cells in the retina.
* Quit smoking. Smoking worsens circulation to the retinal blood vessels.
To make reading easier:
* Use a halogen light. These have less glare than standard light bulbs.
* Shine the light directly on your reading material. This improves the contrast and makes the print easier to see.
* Use a hand-held magnifier. A cheap drugstore magnifier can increase the print size dramatically.
For wet ARMD, your eye doctor may recommend laser treatments, which can be added to the treatments above.
Does the center of your visual field seemed blurred?
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the most common cause of age related vision loss (besides needing reading glasses). Fortunately, natural treatments are very helpful for both prevention and treatment.
BACKGROUND
The macula is in the central part of the retina that is used for more detailed vision, so it tends to affect the center of our visual field. As it has the largest concentration of cells, it also needs more oxygen then the rest of the retina. ARMD is a degenerative condition of the macula. It is the most common cause of vision loss in the United States in those 50 or older, and increases with age. ARMD is caused by hardening of the arteries that nourish the retina. Fortunately, macular degeneration does not cause total blindness since it does not affect the peripheral vision.
There are 2 types of ARMD:
Wet ARMD
Around 10% of cases are called "Wet" ARMD, as new, but fragile, blood vessels try to regrow in to support the macula. These fragile new vessels sometimes leak (hence the name "Wet") causing rapid vision loss in the center of 1 eye.
Dry ARMD
The other 90% of cases are called "Dry" ARMD, and these have a very gradual progression.
PREVENTION and TREATMENT
A number of studies have shown that good nutrition can slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration. For example, it has been proven that people with diets high in antioxidant containing fruits and vegetables (especially leafy green vegetables and colorful berries) have a lower incidence of macular degeneration. This is associated with high levels of the nutrient flavonoids, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin (both found in egg yolks), and lycopene (in tomatoes). In fact, those with high levels of these nutrients had only half the risk of ARMD. Fish oils and nuts were also very protective. Red wine is protective, but beer can worsen ARMD.
Research suggests that a mix of nutrients is more effective than individual ones for ARMD. I recommend a product called "Ocudyne II" capsules by Nutricology (easily found in many online shops) along with:
* Vitamin C 1,000 mg 2-3x day
* Vitamin E (must be natural and mixed tocopherols) 600 units/day
* Selenium 200 mcg a day
* Ginkgo Biloba (standardized to 24%) 40-80 mg 3x day
* Bilberry extract (25% extract) 40-80 mg 3x day
* Zinc 25-50 mg a day
* Eat fish (especially tuna or salmon at least 2x week) ot take fish oil
Other helpful tips include:
* Protect your eyes with sunglasses that have UV protection. Ultraviolet rays are believed to cause damage to the pigment cells in the retina.
* Quit smoking. Smoking worsens circulation to the retinal blood vessels.
To make reading easier:
* Use a halogen light. These have less glare than standard light bulbs.
* Shine the light directly on your reading material. This improves the contrast and makes the print easier to see.
* Use a hand-held magnifier. A cheap drugstore magnifier can increase the print size dramatically.
For wet ARMD, your eye doctor may recommend laser treatments, which can be added to the treatments above.
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