There are many
diseases that only afflict a person after they turn a certain age, however age
related macular degeneration is one of the worst as it affects people over the
age of 50. The disease basically causes one to go blind gradually. The problem
is that people who are afflicted with the disease don’t show any signs of the
disease unless the disease is in the later stages of manifestation. This proves
as a big hindrance as early diagnosis could definitely help in containing some
of the effects of the disease.
The main
operating area of ARMD is the macula which is a spot near the center of the
retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp and central vision. The
progress of age related macular degeneration is different for different people;
while in some people AMD progresses so slowly that vision loss does not occur
for a long time, in others the disease progress faster and vision loss may
occur in one or both of the eyes of the person. The most common symptom of AMD
is a blurred spot near the center of your vision. Over time the blurred spots
turn into blank spots which eventually lead to blindness.
There are a
certain number of risk factors which can be avoided to avoid the onset of age
related macular degeneration. Chief among those risk factors is smoking as
studies have shown that smoking can aggravate the onset of AMD in people. Race
or ethnicity is another risk factor since studies have shown that Caucasians
are more likely to develop AMD then African Americans or Hispanics. And finally
the most obvious risk factor is family history. People with a history of AMD in
their families face double the risk of develop AMD at a later stage in their
lives.
When it comes to
ARMD treatment, nothing concrete exists for the disease in the early stages of
development. However, for the later stages of the disease, research has shown
that a daily intake of certain high dose vitamins and minerals can slow
progression of the disease in people who have intermediate AMD and those who
have late AMD in one eye.
The first trial
conducted during research for ARMD treatment showed
that Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc and copper can reduce the risk
of late AMD by about 25%. The next round of tests showed that the nutrients and
healthy fats found in fish and green leafy vegetables are really effective in
reducing the risk of developing age related macular degeneration. Many
companies have started supplying vitamins based off of this study however these
vitamins only work for people who have intermediate or late age related macular
degeneration.
