May 1, 2014

Macular Degeneration: What Can Be Done?

Ophthalmologist Recommendations

  • Review your risk factors and change your life style
  • Protect your eyes from Ultra Violet and Blue wave lengths
  • With Macular Degeneration diagnosed, begin a committed antioxidant program like Horizon Complete by age 50
  • Those with relatives who have Macular Degeneration should begin the supplement by at least age 40

Risk Factors You Can Control

You have control over some of the known risk factors for Macular Degeneration. If you have Macular Degeneration, a family history of Macular Degeneration, or are in the “macular generation” (age 50 or above), you should be particularly attentive to these. However, it is most effective to take these steps well before you are at risk. Healthy habits, started young, will provide the most benefits.

    • Stop Smoking  Tobacco appears to interfere with the absorption of lutein, an important antioxidant that protects the retina from damaging ultraviolet light. Smokers are likely to have low levels of lutein and they are at greater risk of developing Macular Degeneration than nonsmokers. So, if you’ve been trying to quit smoking, here’s another good reason to stop!
    • Control High Blood Pressure – The eye is a highly vascular organ and it has a rich supply of blood vessels. In fact, the rate of blood exchange in the eye is the highest in the body. The link between high blood pressure and AMD is well established.The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your doctor check for it. There are no symptoms, which is why it is called “the silent killer”. If you have high blood pressure, it can be controlled by following your doctor’s instructions. This may involve changes in diet and/or medication.
    • Protect Your Eyes From Exposure to Harmful Sunlight – Ultraviolet light and blue light can damage your retina and may increase your chances of developing Macular Degeneration. They can also speed up its development. Therefore, it is extremely important to protect your eyes when you are out of doors.Wear a hat or visor whenever you are outside, even on overcast days. Ultraviolet light passes through cloud cover and is just as dangerous as direct sunlight.Usage of ultraviolet filtering lenses is universally recommended for all prescription and nonprescription clear or dark glasses. In other words, no pair of glasses in this country should be manufactured without UV protection. Plastic lenses have the so-called UV400 filter that will remove or filter all of the wavelengths shorter than 400 nanometers. This should effectively remove the ultraviolet exposure.Wavelengths between 500 and 400 nanometers can only be removed by an additional material that blocks blue light wavelength. This wavelength has also been found to be harmful to the macula.

      There are several options available for combination of UV and blue light protection. Such lenses are not only excellent for protection of the macula, but they are also very helpful in assisting individuals in obtaining sharper vision by eliminating blue scatter. These lenses can be made with or without anti-reflective (anti-glare) coating. Ask a professional Optician about your options and in selecting the proper lens type.

    • Eat a Healthy Diet – The diet widely recommended as beneficial for cardiovascular good health – low in saturated fats, high in fruits and vegetables – also seems to help people suffering from AMD. A healthy lifestyle that includes regular cardiovascular exercise also contributes to both cardiac and eye health. One explanation: A healthy heart speeds the delivery of essential nutrients to the eyes and hastens the removal of waste products. Other studies have noted beneficial changes from a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, mustard and collard greens. The Journal of the American Geriatric Society reported a correlation between the consumption of red wine in moderate amounts (one glass daily) and the retarded onset of AMD. Choose your “medicine”-spinach or cabernet!

Learn more about how Horizon Complete can help people with AMD or those with relatives diagnosed with AMD.

Recommendation Regarding Supplements

AREDS-2 Study which was conducted by 11 Eye Centers and coordinated by The National Eye Institute of Health has shown a whopping 25% improvement in visual acuity in patients with Macular Degeneration who were using supplements as noted in their protocol.

Treatments For Wet Macular Degeneration

The National Institute of Health emphasis is directed not only at the antioxidant/nutrient treatment for Macular Degeneration, which is applicable in the early stages of the disease, but also at finding ways of improving the life of those patients who have already converted into the wet phase and have serious ocular disabilities. In this area, photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the drug called Verteporfin are being used. Other similar drugs are being developed. With this treatment, the drug is injected into the blood stream and after it reaches the eye, a low power nonthermal laser is shined onto the eye which converts the drug into singlet oxygen, which in turn destroys the new vessels, which were causing hemorrhage and damage in the macula. This treatment is available.

What Can Be Done?

  • Make early diagnosis and work on prevention
  • Do NOT accept the idea that nothing can be done

Positive Breaking News!!

  • On May 5, 2013 National Eye Institute (NEI) & NIH released the long awaited AREDS-2 study
  • 5000 patients followed for 5 years
  • Proved that antioxidants & minerals reduced the risk of AMD by 25%!

Antioxidants & Minerals are Needed to Reduce the Risk of AMD

  • Vitamins
  • Enzymes
  • Trace metals
  • Carotenoids
  • Other pigments
  • Bioflavonoids
  • Glutathione boosters

Learn how each helps reduce the risk of macular degeneration.

Horizon Complete was researched and formulated by Ophthalmologists for their patients.

The development of Horizon Complete was in response to the realization that there was no single dietary supplement product that contained ALL of the components currently thought to provide benefit for macular degeneration as well as a multivitamin for overall general health.

Read “A Letter To My Patients” written by Dr. Eric Kahle.

New Treatments

  • Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses dyes such as Verteporfin
  • Dye goes to new vessels which leak in the macula
  • Dye is sensitive to a specific red laser in a very small dose energy
  • The reaction of laser and dye obliterates the leaky vessels

At this time, applies to around 5% of Wet Macular Degeneration

  • Radiation with proton beam

Applies to a greater number of Wet cases

  • Thermal Laser Photo-Coagulation

Why Horizon Complete?

  • Researched and formulated by Ophthalmologists
  • Ingredients regularly kept current with proven findings in eye nutrition related to AMD
  • Only two taken per day, one in the morning and one in the evening
  • Reasonably priced

Learn more about how Horizon Complete can help.

Any additional inquiries regarding our Horizon Complete product should be directed to Eric J. Kahle, M.D. at 6880 Palm Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 or or contact us.