What is the natural treatment for macular degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative eye disease It usually affects the eyesight of the elderly. Its prevalence is estimated to be 1.2% of the population between 52 and 64 years of age, with a 20% increase in patients over 75 years of age, both in men and women.

It consists of a deterioration of the macula, the central and most sensitive part of the retina, with which central vision is lost and only the lateral or peripheral remains. That is, it leaves very little field of vision and affects the ability to see details when reading, watching TV, sewing, recognizing faces…

Two Types of Macular Degeneration: Dry and Wet

in the dry form or atrophic disease, the lack of nutrients and oxygen in the retina, Caused by abnormalities of the surrounding membrane and pigment epithelium, it causes the death of cells in that area. Over time, a blurry spot appears in the center of vision that eventually becomes an increasingly large opaque area. It is the most common form and evolution is slow.in the wet form or exudative of age-related macular degeneration abnormal vessels appear that bleed and they leak fluid, which ultimately ends up destroying a large area of ​​the retina around them. Loss of central vision is rapid; straight lines appear wavy and fixed black spots are seen.

Can macular degeneration be cured?

Unfortunately, macular degeneration has no cure. The goal is to help the patient see better and stabilize the disease.

Treatment of wet macular degeneration

Wet macular degeneration can be treated with medications that stop the growth of blood vessels such as ranibizumab and the aflibercept.

can also be applied photodynamic therapy that combines drugs and lasers to seal blood vessels.

The photocoagulation Is another option. It also uses high-energy laser light to destroy new blood vessels.

Treatment of dry macular degeneration

In some cases, surgical intervention is possible to implant telescopic lenses.

Natural treatment of macular degeneration

With the object of stop or delay its evolution It is advisable eat lots of fruit and vegetables as well as antioxidant vitamins and trace elements (vegetables, legumes, cherries, beets, carrots, spinach, etc.).

Take carotenes Antioxidants do not restore lost vision, but they do reduce the risk of AMD. The most effective are lutein and zeaxanthin, that protect against the oxidative effects of ultraviolet rays. They are found in yellow vegetables and green leaves: pepper, pumpkin, carrot, spinach, kale… To maintain good eye health it is recommended take 6 mg of carotenoids a day. In addition, it is recommended to incorporate other nutrients such as vitamin C, E and group B (especially B3 and folic acid), flavonoids, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids.

A nutritional formula against macular degeneration

The National Eye Institute, part of the US National Institutes of Health, sponsored two large studies that examined the role of nutritional supplements in the disease.

The studies are known as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS and AREDS2).

The researchers found that the daily nutritional supplementation reduced the risk of intermediate to late progression by 25-30% within 5 years. It also reduced the risk of vision loss by 19 percent.

The original AREDS multivitamin formula includes:

500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C400 international units (IU) of vitamin E80 mg of zinc15 mg of beta-carotene2 mg of copper

vision aids

On the other hand, it is recommended resort to low vision techniques and artifacts. They are based on optical systems to magnify the image and lights, since although people with macular degeneration have severe central vision loss, peripheral or lateral vision is not affected.

With these aids they can carry out normal activities such as reading or watching television, although they cannot drive again.

Each person has to try according to their situation, since a type of vision aid can be useful for reading, but totally ineffective for watching television or focusing on something at a distance and vice versa.