Diminishing Sight

Macular degeneration is a progressive degradation to the part of the eye which is responsible for sharp, central vision.

W e all enjoy seeing things. Trees, flowers, the sky and a good book are all things we might enjoy gazing upon. Spring is coming and we will be spending more days outside.

What if one day you couldn’t see? What if vision loss was gradual, so you knew it was coming? This is the reality of macular degeneration, a progressive degradation to the part of the eye which is responsible for sharp, central vision. Let’s highlight the early warning signs, prevention and treatments for this sight-robbing condition.

How human vision works is fascinating and fragile. Light passes into our eye and is focused onto the thin tissue on the back of the eye, called the retina. The central portion of the retina is called the macula, and this area is responsible for sharp, central vision.

One early symptom of macular degeneration is the gradual blurring in the central area of vision. Another symptom may be when straight lines appear wavy. Macular degeneration may occur in just one eye; in this case no vision changes may be noticed. This is why regular visits to your optometrist or eye specialist are important.

Prevention of Macular Degeneration

There are many things you can do to protect your eyes from macular degeneration and other eye conditions. The first thing is to protect your eyes from sunlight. Wear your sunglasses. While sunlight has not been associated with worsening macular degeneration, many people still believe sunlight can cause damage, and this is an easily avoidable risk factor. I think everyone should wear sunglasses, especially young children and infants. Their sensitive eyes need protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Smoking can also increase your risk of developing this and other eye diseases. High cholesterol also may play a part in the development of macular degeneration.

A healthy diet can help prevent many diseases, including macular degeneration. Consume more fruits and vegetables that are dark green, yellow or orange in colour. Generally, these types of produce contain two ingredients important for eye health – lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the primary pigments found in the macula and are thought to protect the retina from ultraviolet sunlight. Lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in spinach, collard greens, kale, broccoli, papaya, oranges, kiwi, mango and bell peppers.

Studies have shown that people with a higher dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin have a lower risk of developing macular degeneration. Preliminary research suggests that taking 10 milligrams of lutein a day for 12 months can improve some symptoms of macular degeneration, but it doesn’t seem to affect the progression of this eye disease. Many eye care professionals recommend that their patients take lutein; there are few treatment options available and lutein appears somewhat helpful for delaying the progression of this disease.

There is a supplement that has been shown to help prevent worsening of macular degeneration. In the National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), a large group of people with and without macular degeneration took a multivitamin containing zinc, beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E. What the researchers found was that there was a risk reduction of 27 per cent for vision loss in people who had advanced AMD, and a risk reduction of 25 per cent in the progression of macular degeneration to a more advanced stage of this disease. In people with no, or early macular degeneration, there appeared to be no benefit.

There are few contra-indications for taking this vitamin product. Ask your Heart Pharmacist if this vitamin is right for you. There is some concern that people who smoke and take beta-carotene – this combination may increase their risk of developing lung and prostate cancer. One way to reduce this risk is to quit smoking. There are beta-carotene free formulation of the AREDS multivitamin. It has also been reported that DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), a fatty acid found in fish oil, may help to prevent macular degeneration. Medical studies have shown that people who eat fish more that four times a week had a 35 per cent lower risk of developing macular degeneration. DHA is a fatty acid that is unique to fish, so it was thought that it was the fatty acid that was associated with the reduced risk.

Be good to your eyes and they will reveal the world to you. I think that we should all try something that many high school students have done – experience the world blindfolded for an afternoon.

While it may not be an option for many of us, it could give us a greater appreciation for a bodily sense that we often take for granted. It may also instill a greater sense of empathy and respect for those who have lost their vision. And don’t forget to wear your sunglasses!