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The ARMD And The Macular Supplements Information

By Ryan Watson


Age-related macular degeneration (MD), also referred to as AMD, is a form of vision loss and affects the macula part of the eye or eyes. It is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in most western countries. Usually affecting people aged 65 or above, this is a more serious eye condition than some other complaints and eye conditions. But with macular supplements, the patients have somewhere to get help.

ARMD sometimes begins with a build-up of cellular waste products in the cone cells called drusen. Also, there may be a change in the amount of pigmentation in the cell (like the "age-spots" on our skin with aging). This is referred to as "Dry ARMD". Over time vision slowly worsens and over many years may lead to significant vision problems.

One of the main causes of losing eyesight is macular degeneration (MD). It can affect people of all ages. Still, most of the people who are affected by this condition are those who are already about fifty to sixty years of age. Some lose sight because of having diabetic retinopathy and seek various treatments including laser eye procedures and other methods. In this article, the focus will be given on how to prevent and treat MD and save the eyesight.

Signs of MD begin with yellow deposits developing in the central area of the retina. The technical term for this area is the drusen. It is advised after the age of 50 to get your eyes checked at least twice a year due to the fact that MD strikes many people with good vision. Having good eyesight is no indicator that you will not develop the disease.

Preventive measures such as eye supplements like lutein and vitamin K are recommended by medical experts for better eye health. Are you at a healthy weight? Is your blood pressure at a consistent, normal level? If you have high blood pressure or are obese, the risk of developing this disease rises. Try to exercise three times per week and cut down on fatty foods. If you smoke, quit.

Before a patient's condition progresses to the wet form of the disease, it begins as the dry, non-neovascular type of AMD. The first symptoms of dry AMD are drusen, yellow spots, which amass in the vicinity of the macular. They are believed to be the result of decomposition of the tissue within the eye which deposits itself in and around this region.

There are now vigorous measures being taken to deal with this problem by using such devices as larger glasses or bifocals; in fact, many recent computer systems have included an MD-friendly program known as JAWS, which makes it much easier for the person with MD to see more clearly. Some vision experts also suggest patients begin a regimen of specific vitamins that can help to strengthen vision and avoid further damage.

Age-Related MD treatments also include experimental surgical procedures. New surgeries are being tried in an attempt to remove abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Other surgical techniques are directed at the abnormal blood vessels which are located right in the center of the macular.

Lifestyle choices also play a part, and smoking is way up there as a well-known cause of all types of MD. Obesity can be another contributing factor. If you have been exposed to lots of sunlight, through your career or perhaps you live nearer the equator then this puts you in a higher risk category also.




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