The article below from "AOA First Look" may be interesting to AMD sufferers. There is no doubt that Lutein is beneficial to persons with AMD. I am not endorsing this product but it may be worth looking into.
"AMD patient says supplement containing marigold extracts restored vision."
The UK's Daily Mail (12/11) reports that retired UK optician Harry Marsland, who suffers from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), "could be the first person in the UK to have recovered from" that "devastating condition." Since he began taking 2 mg daily of "a food supplement containing marigold extracts" in early 2007, Marsland says that "he is driving a car again, reads without a magnifier, and has near-perfect vision in the affected eye." The Daily Mail explains that the "vitamin supplement, called Macushield," costs £150 (approximately $245) for a year's supply, and "is not available on the NHS."
The UK's Telegraph (12/11, Wardrop) points out that the supplement taken by Marsland "contains lutein, found in spinach, and zeaxanthin, the yellow pigment found in corn," as well as "mesozeaxanthin, derived from marigolds." Marsland claims to "have recovered 95 percent of the sight in" his left eye.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Woman with Diabetes, Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration helped to read
The three greatest causes of vision loss and blindness are diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Any one of them can have devastating effects on a person's eyesight and their life. I had the opportunity to perform a low vision evaluation on a lady (GW) who had all three conditions and was asking for help in seeing better for some of the day to day activities that she had given up.
The top 4 things on GW's wish list were to be able to read her Bible, read her mail, use her checkbook and use her computer. Following a thorough low vision evaluation using low vision glasses she was able to do all of these things.
GW had no prescription glasses. Her doctor had recommended that she go to the store and find a pair of readers, telling her that nothing else could be done to help. She also had a low power hand magnifier. Her distance visual acuity with the right eye was 20/240 and 20/700 with the left. When I measured the power of her eyes I found that there was a moderate amount of astigmatism in each eye. Correcting that alone did not improve her vision very much.
A 4X Clear Image microscopic lens combined with the astigmatism correction allowed GW to read a large print Bible easily. With that lens she read letters one third the size that she could with the readers.
When the astigmatism correction was used along with a 2.2X bioptic telescopic lens for distance vision GW was able to read 20/60 letters, one fourth the size that she was able to read with no lenses. She was able to see her husband's face well from about 20 feet and saw the cars and people well when she tested the bioptics outdoors.
GW has ordered the Clear Image microscopic glasses for reading, the bioptic telescopic glasses for television and to recognize faces when she is at church or shopping. In addition, she will have a lens cap for the telescopic glasses that will allow her to use her computer with them.
Although this nice lady has the three most damaging eye diseases she responded very well to low vision glasses and I expect her to enjoy them.
You might think that someone with this combination of eye diseases could not find help. The reason that I accepted her as a patient and is that I'd interviewed her by phone and was sure in advance of her appointment that I could help. I do not accept low vision patients until we have talked by phone and I feel that they have sufficient vision that I can help them achieve their goals.
If you would like to talk about your low vision problem and your goals please give me a call. We can quickly determine if I will be able to help you. Call me toll free 1 866 321-2030.
The top 4 things on GW's wish list were to be able to read her Bible, read her mail, use her checkbook and use her computer. Following a thorough low vision evaluation using low vision glasses she was able to do all of these things.
GW had no prescription glasses. Her doctor had recommended that she go to the store and find a pair of readers, telling her that nothing else could be done to help. She also had a low power hand magnifier. Her distance visual acuity with the right eye was 20/240 and 20/700 with the left. When I measured the power of her eyes I found that there was a moderate amount of astigmatism in each eye. Correcting that alone did not improve her vision very much.
A 4X Clear Image microscopic lens combined with the astigmatism correction allowed GW to read a large print Bible easily. With that lens she read letters one third the size that she could with the readers.
When the astigmatism correction was used along with a 2.2X bioptic telescopic lens for distance vision GW was able to read 20/60 letters, one fourth the size that she was able to read with no lenses. She was able to see her husband's face well from about 20 feet and saw the cars and people well when she tested the bioptics outdoors.
GW has ordered the Clear Image microscopic glasses for reading, the bioptic telescopic glasses for television and to recognize faces when she is at church or shopping. In addition, she will have a lens cap for the telescopic glasses that will allow her to use her computer with them.
Although this nice lady has the three most damaging eye diseases she responded very well to low vision glasses and I expect her to enjoy them.
You might think that someone with this combination of eye diseases could not find help. The reason that I accepted her as a patient and is that I'd interviewed her by phone and was sure in advance of her appointment that I could help. I do not accept low vision patients until we have talked by phone and I feel that they have sufficient vision that I can help them achieve their goals.
If you would like to talk about your low vision problem and your goals please give me a call. We can quickly determine if I will be able to help you. Call me toll free 1 866 321-2030.
"I Finally Received My Driver's License"
Margot Templeton came to me in June of 2009. Her driver's license was about to expire and she knew that she would be unable to renew it due to her vision problem. Mrs. Templeton lost her vision completely, in the right eye, due to a central retinal vein occlusion. Her vision in the left is reduced to about 20/80 from retinal hemorrhaging. A thorough low vision evaluation proved that with the use of a 2.2X bioptic telescopic prescription she would be able to meet the Virginia DMV requirements to drive wearing the bioptic glasses.Mrs. Templeton returned to see me in September, after using the telescopic glasses for 2 months. At that time I was able to certify her to obtain a driver's license using the bioptics.
Due to some confusion at her local DMV office I needed to make a few phone calls on her behalf. This week I received a note from her announcing that she has received the license.
Mrs. Templeton wrote:
Dear Dr. Armstrong,
Finally received my driver's license yesterday.
Peggy and a young man quizzed me, while I sat in the passenger seat, about what I could see. Then Peggy asked me to drive and identify anything my vision allowed.
The end result--They were amazed at how well I could see.
Just wish to thank you for what you do--help people like me to regain a sense of freedom by being able to drive again.
Sincerely,
Margot Templeton
Many people with vision loss like Mrs. Templeton can be helped to return to driving, reading, hobbies, computer use and other visual tasks through the use of properly prescribed low vision glasses.
If you have had to give up some activities that you have enjoyed give me a call. We will talk about your vision and your goals. I'll ask you questions to determine if I can help you. I will be honest with you. If I do not think that I can help I will not schedule an appointment. Only if I feel that I can help you will I schedule an appointment for a low vision evaluation. There is no charge for the call or the telephone consultation. Call me at 1-866 321-2030.
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