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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:20 am
by Minimalist
I haven't got a clue. But she's been evaluated by eye doctors and they've told her there is nothing they can do. Now...even in the one eye that has partial sight she has cataracts and they still don't think it's worth the risk to try anything.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:02 pm
by Digit
I was diagnosed with MD in 1990 as I lost the central vision in my left eye over night, the diagnosis was ultimately changed. If she had a sudden loss from blood vessels growing behind the Macular that is normally 'wet' MD. This is treatable with injections into the eyeball. To stop the further spread the treatment over here is laser welding of the edge of the hole, that is what I had done. I'll hazard a guess that she is blue eyed.
Also check out Lutein therapy, seems to work for some people.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:10 pm
by Beagle
Also check out Lutein therapy, seems to work for some people.
Being deficient in Lutein, a nutrient in many foods, predisposes a person to MD. So it has a preventative effect, but normally is of little use once the disease has begun.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 12:32 pm
by Digit
Granted Beag, but MD tends over time to spread to both eyes.
The Macular hole that I have is very small, on its own it's hardly noticeable, but the area of distortion that surrounds it due to the laser work gives me effectively monocular vision. The result of that is judging of distances close to is impossible, which is what forced me into retirement. I have adjusted, and I gained 5 yrs extra retirement time.
My point is simple, one eye is better than none, if Lutein will save her other eye it's cheap and worth it even if it only staves off the time before the other eye is damaged.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:26 pm
by Beagle
Yes Dig, as I said, it's of little use - not completely useless.
Now, just a brief word on supplements. Taking individual supplements are usually a waste of money. Every nutrient that we use works in concert with other nutrients. A supplement of one will propably result in only it's partial use, if any.
In the US, I recommend Centrum. 1 tablet a day with food. For men over 50 and women who are post menopausal - then Centrum Silver. This is the most complete multivitamin/multimineral supplement available. Many drug store chains like Walgreens have their own generic equivalent, which is just as good, and cheaper. Yes, it has Lutein.
I don't own stock or have any financial interest in Centrum whatsoever.

I'm just a forum member who has been interested in this stuff for a long time.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:30 pm
by Digit
Agreed Beag, the Lutein I was prescribed was part of the overall package.
Like Min's mum-in-law I also have cataracts, minor, I wan't even aware of them and Lutein seems to hold them in check.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:56 pm
by Minimalist
I just asked my wife and it's Dry MD. Irreversible at this time.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:14 pm
by Digit
Irriversible, yes. But investigate this sort of thing Bob, it's better than doing nothing.
What can be done to help with “dry” AMD?
At the moment there aren’t any medical treatments for “dry” AMD. There is some research which suggests that vitamin supplements can help slow down the progression of “dry” AMD. They do not restore sight, but they may have a preventative role to play.
See our page on nutrition and the eye.
The word over here is that there have been no clinical trials involving Lutein, neither natural nor man made, but there is strong circumstantial evidence that it can help the good eye. I lost the use of one eye over night, it's terrifying! Forget Prostate Cancer, it can only kill you, going blind is the most frightening thing I ever faced!
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:55 pm
by Minimalist
My brother-in-law is a physician at the Medical University of South Carolina. He had the eye specialists there look at her and pronounce it hopeless. They don't even want to do anything about the cataracts because they are afraid of destroying what little sight she has left.
Her overall condition is not good either. She has a lot more wrong with her than just her eyes.
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:01 pm
by Digit
Yeah Bob, know the problems.
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:26 am
by CShark
Digit wrote:Granted Beag, but MD tends over time to spread to both eyes.
The Macular hole that I have is very small, on its own it's hardly noticeable, but the area of distortion that surrounds it due to the laser work gives me effectively monocular vision. The result of that is judging of distances close to is impossible, which is what forced me into retirement. I have adjusted, and I gained 5 yrs extra retirement time.
My point is simple, one eye is better than none, if Lutein will save her other eye it's cheap and worth it even if it only staves off the time before the other eye is damaged.
Just curious Dig, what did you do for a living ? I've got less than 5 years to go, and can't wait to have time for all by interests...
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:36 am
by Digit
I was an engineer Shark. Started in the aircraft industry till I saw what a 20 mm cannon could do then got out. I worked my way up through Charge Hand, (Team Leader), then Foreman, then Development Engineer, then project Leader and finally Tech Director.
Then I said stuff the lot and walked away and moved here and started my own business in domestic appliances.
If you have interests to follow then retirement is marvelous, those who haven't don't live very long.
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:38 am
by Minimalist
I did ask my wife if she knew if her mother had wet or dry MD. It's dry.
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:26 pm
by Digit
Currently no known treatment I fear Min.
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:37 pm
by Minimalist
So they said.