Overview
Macular Degeneration (ARMD-Aged Related Macular Degeneration) is the slow deterioration of the cells in the macula, a tiny yellowish area near the center of the retina where vision is the most precise. This deterioration therefore affects your central vision, the very vision you use for reading, writing, driving and recognizing faces. ARMD causes the loss of central vision. Your peripheral vision is not affected.
There are two types of macular degeneration: Ninety percent of people with macular degeneration have the dry type, in which small, yellow spots called drusens form underneath the macular. Drusens are believed to be waste products that accumulate because of lack of antioxidants to clear the waste from the eyes The drusen slowly break down the cells in the macular, causing distorted vision. Dry macular degeneration can progress to the second, more severe type, called wet macular degeneration.
In the wet type, new, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow toward the macular, causing rapid and severe vision loss.
Natural Remedies and Prevention
Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in getting and maintaining good vision. Below are some recommendations:
- Daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our macular degeneration recipe is some combination of the following: ginger, garlic, leeks, parsley, beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, spinach, kale, collard greens, apples, grapes, raspberries, lemon, chlorophyll, wheat grasses – (not too much fruit).
- Reduce or eliminate drinking caffeine and sodas, avoid aspartame (labeled diet foods)and man made fats (corn oil and safflower oil, trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils including canola oil, and especially margarines).
- Eliminate deep fat fried foods, monosodium glutanate (MSG) used as a flavor enhancer which is a potential retinal toxin (Inv Oph 1996; 37: 1618-24), and fat blockers like Olestra which impair the absorption of carotenoids (Argus, August 1996;19:18:July 1996;19:22). Eating greater amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol appear to increase the risk of AMD.
- Limit your alcohol consumption to 1 glass of red wine at night. Alcohol interferes with liver functions, reducing protective glutathione levels (Alcohol 1993;10;469-75).
- Eliminate smoking. Smoking among other things produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.
- Supplement your diet with an excellent eye multivitamin.
- Limit the amount of medications (both prescription and non-prescription as much as possible. Make sure to work closely with your healthcare practitioner.
- Exercise daily - do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
- Managing your emotional health is very important in maintaining physical health. Fear (fear of failure, responsibility, of being alone, of death, etc.) is at the root of many of life’s problems, and is a major factor in many diseases. Take up the practice of meditation, yoga, tai chi, or mindfulness while walking, on a daily basis.
Source: Dr. Marc Grossman and Michael Edison, MS, LAc.