Macular Degeneration Archives - Page 19 of 24 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

Embryopic Stem Cell Research for Macular Degeneration Approved

The Food and Drug Administration has just approved the use of human embryonic stem cells to treat macular degeneration.

The company, Advanced Cell Technology, is already doing research on the use of stem cells to treat people with another condition related to progressive vision loss, Stargardt’s disease. Source: Medscape

Though the general consensus in the medical community generally has it that macular degeneration inevitably leads to blindness, there are natural treatment options out there that can halt and even reverse the progression of the disease.

Mercury in Fish Can Increase Blood Pressure: Find Omegas in Other Sources for Heart and Eye Health

Your new year’s resolutions may well include eating better, both for the health of your heart and the health of your eyes. The essential fatty acids found in fish can be a great addition to your diet.

In particular, omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce cholesterol and increase circulation to the retina. Omega-6 fatty acids are important as they protect cells from degenerative changes and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Both Omega 3s and 6s help prevent and even treat glaucoma and macular degeneration.

A word of caution about your fish intake the effect of mercury which contaminates the larger ocean predator fish (tuna, swordfish, marlin, sharks, etc): too much mercury in the body can raise your blood pressure.

Source: theheart.org/article/1010897.doc

Small fish like sardines are a safe choice, but there are non-swimming sources of essential fatty acids out there too. Find omega-3s in flax seed oil, black current oil, walnuts and walnut oils, dark leafy vegetables, eggs (preferably from free range chickens), spices (including mustard, fennel, cumin, and fenugreek). Get your omega-6s from evening primrose, borage and black currant oils.

Learn more about food sources of nutrients and how they can benefit your eyes and your whole body.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications May Slow Macular Degeneration, But Are They Safe?

Researchers have found that taking anti-inflammatory medication may slow the progression of macular degeneration. But, there are concerns about the safety of this “solution.”

A study published in the journal Eye describes how corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), immunosuppressive agents (e.g. methotrexate and rapamycin), and biologics could help those with AMD. Source www.nature.com

A caveat to the research indicates that there are concerns about the long term safety of taking such drugs. At Natural Eye Care we are very concerned about the way that prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals can harm the eyes.

For example, NSAID drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can cause eye hemorrhaging, glaucoma, and cataracts.

10 Million Dollar Grant for Retinal Disease Research

The National Eye Institute has just given researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine a $10.1 million grant to study and develop new treatments for diseases that affect the eye’s retina. Part of their research will focus on the development and treatment of macular degeneration and Stargardt’s Disease.

Researchers will be looking at how the eye metabolizes essential vitamin A and how it deals with the toxic byproducts of that process. If the build-up of those byproducts is not managed by the body properly then one is likely to develop eye disease. Source: https://www.physorg.com/wire-news/54994484/case-western-reserve-receives-10m-to-study-retinal-disease-devel.html

Because this grants is in part funded by the Food and Drug Administration, researcher will focus on analyzing the effectiveness of current drugs and formulating new pharmaceutical options.

At Natural Eye Care, we advocate taking a natural approach to eye disease prevention and treatment. Learn more about how to prevent and treat macular degeneration naturally.

Quit Smoking to Help Your Heart & Prevent Macular Degeneration

The American Journal of Cardiology has just published a study describing how cigarette smokers with coronary heart disease an greatly benefit from kicking the smoking habit.

The importance of smoking cessation is well documented, but this study goes as far as to say that people who currently smoke are 57% more likely to suffer a major cardiovascular event than those who have quit smoking. Source: https://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Lifestyle/smoking_cessation_reduces_heart_disease_risk_1226100122.html

Studies have also proven that smoking cessation can reduce one’s risk of developing macular degeneration.

Learn more macular degeneration research at our website.

Prevent Macular Degeneration With Diet, Exercise, and Smoking Cessation

It’s great when medical studies support what we have been telling our patients and clients for years.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology describes how a good diet, regular exercise, and the avoidance of smoking can reduce one’s risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration. The study revealed that there was little difference in whether one smoked for a long time or only briefly; any history of smoking puts you in the higher risk category. The findings are based on a study of 1313 participants ranging in age from 55 to 74 years. Source: Medscape

Learn more about how prevention is the best medicine when you want to ward off eye disease and other conditions.

For more about how you can prevent and treat macular degeneration, please visit our website.

Diets High in Polyunsaturated Fats Increase Risk of Macular Degeneration

Decreasing the consumption of fat may help protect against the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to results of the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study.
For their research, the investigators followed nearly 2,000 women aged 50 to 79 as part of the larger Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, Via the use of questionnaires and retinal photography, they concluded that women who consumed the highest levels of dietary polyunsaturated fats were approximately twice as likely to have AMD when compared to those women who consumed the least. It is important to note that consuming monounsaturated fatty acids (like olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, nuts and seeds) were associated with a lower risk of AMD. Reference: Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Nov;127(11):1483-93
For further information on preventing and treating macular degeneration naturally, visit our website.

Editor’s Note: The types of fats in one’s diet play a major role in eye and overall body health. Avoid polyunsaturated oils such as vegetables oils (do not cook with these oils). Use high quality olive oil in your diet on your salads and food such as adding it to your steamed vegetables (with a little balsamic vinegar or lemon – delicious).

Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma

A healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of stroke by up to 80%.

Research published in the journal Stroke encourages people to exercise regularly, drink alcohol only in moderation, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, control weight, and not smoke in order to avoid stroke.

These guidelines are the same that we recommend when it comes to avoiding vision conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Moderate Alcohol Use

There’s another piece of evidence that suggests moderate drinking – one or two alcoholic beverages each day – can be beneficial for the eyes.

A study of over 3,600 Australians found that when the figures were adjusted to account for other factors (including age, smoking, and diabetes), people who had one or two drinks each day were 50% less likely to have cataract surgery. The moderate drinkers were less likely to require surgery for cataracts than counterparts who drank more as well as those who did not drink at all.

Source: https://www.osnsupersite.com

Omega-3s Found in Fish Fight Macular Degeneration

When people between 65 and 84 eat fish weekly they are less likely to develop macular degeneration.

The study published in the journal Ophthalmology credits the intake of omega-3 fatty acids with helping to ward off macular degeneration. Source: https://www.ophthalmologyjournaloftheaao.com

Dietary supplements are also a good source of omega 3s.

For more research into macular degeneration, click here.

To learn about other ways to prevent and treat macular degeneration visit our website.

Omega Fatty Acids Treat Macular Degeneration, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Diabetic Retinopathy

Scientists are continually evaluating the powerful compounds found in omega-3 fatty acids to determine further ways they can be used to make us healthier.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association sought to find out whether taking omega-3 supplements could help those who suffer from atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeats caused by the upper chambers of the heart beating out of sync with the upper potentially leading to a stroke). In this case, the researchers did not find that taking omega-3 supplements over six months helped decrease instances of atrial fibrillation. Source: https://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/304/21/2363?rss=1

But, there have been numerous other studies that have shown how omega fatty acids can be very beneficial, specifically to those suffering from macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and diabetic retinopathy.

For more research on the eye and overall health conditions that you are most concerned about, visit our research index.