PSA: If you are over 50, please get yourself tested for age related macular degeneration

[Ranger Dan]

If you are 50 or over, please get yourself tested for age related macular degeneration (AMD). It is the leading cause of adult blindness. Despite this, optometrists routinely test for glaucoma but not AMD. Your ability to adjust from bright light to dark (dark adaptation) can be used as a strong predictor (90%) as much as 3 years before it can be diagnosed clinically. This isn’t a sales pitch, but someone I care about came to my work today to get tested and the results indicate early stage AMD. The good news is that he can find an optometrist who can test her and help slow down the progression. See link below for background on the disease.

https://www.maculogix.com/amd/biology-of-amd/

 

[Ranger Dan]

My dad has it. He gets “the shot” every other month or so. Right in the eye. I’m not afraid of needles (15 gallon blood donor) but that gives me the willies.

Genetics is second only to age as a causal factor for AMD. If you are 50 or older, please go get your dark adaption checked.

 

[wilykyote]

My dad has it. He gets “the shot” every other month or so. Right in the eye. I’m not afraid of needles (15 gallon blood donor) but that gives me the willies.

Agree, I would have to be in really dire straits to allow an injection into my eye. Its 2019, you would think they had a better way to treat this. Every 2 months??? Yuk!

 

[step.eng69]

If you are 50 or over, please get yourself tested for age related macular degeneration (AMD). It is the leading cause of adult blindness. Despite this, optometrists routinely test for glaucoma but not AMD. Your ability to adjust from bright light to dark (dark adaptation) can be used as a strong predictor (90%) as much as 3 years before it can be diagnosed clinically. This isn’t a sales pitch, but someone I care about came to my work today to get tested and the results indicate early stage AMD. The good news is that he can find an optometrist who can test her and help slow down the progression. See link below for background on the disease.

https://www.maculogix.com/amd/biology-of-amd/

Thanks for the post Ranger,
I believe
Lion Jim and myself both know the implications from eye and ear impairment.
It's a tough world, but we strive to survive in it. I'm not doing too badly, and I'm sure LJ could say the same.

 

[Nitt1300]

My dad has it. He gets “the shot” every other month or so. Right in the eye. I’m not afraid of needles (15 gallon blood donor) but that gives me the willies.

I get them too- it sounds worse than it is- IF you have the right doctor, the technique is somewhat delicate. The toughest thing is to keep your eye STEADY when the needle is in

 

[Ranger Dan]

The best scenario is to catch it in the pre-clinical stage. Make lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) take some supplements like presiovision. Please consult your optometrist.

 

[81b&w]

Well there goes my evening, now I'm paranoid

 

[psute]

My father had the rarer type. As I recall, it was called "wet". Treated with laser surgery. Halted the progression and he had no further problems. Was still driving at 90 before the cancer came back...

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Ranger Dan, great recommendation.

My Mom has it, age 91, it’s a VERY ugly disease she’s been fighting for ten years.

I religiously get my eyes checked the first week of January every year. It includes a computer-generated deep retinal scan so the doc can detect any year-to-year deterioration. Have not yet started to take a supplement like B&L PreserVision, but have certainly considered it.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Ranger Dan, great recommendation.

My Mom has it, age 91, it’s a VERY ugly disease she’s been fighting for ten years.

I religiously get my eyes checked the first week of January every year. It includes a computer-generated deep retinal scan so the doc can detect any year-to-year deterioration. Have not yet started to take a supplement like B&L PreserVision, but have certainly considered it.

Ask your doctor about dark adaption. You want to find it before it’s visible...

 

[We Are . . .]

My dad had it. It changed his life and not in a good way. I see the ophthalmologist every six months for glaucoma and I remind her about my dad's history with AMD. So, please everybody, take Ranger's advice and get checked.

IIRC, didn't JoePa have the "wet" macular degeneration?

 

[step.eng69]

Ranger Dan, great recommendation.

My Mom has it, age 91, it’s a VERY ugly disease she’s been fighting for ten years.

I religiously get my eyes checked the first week of January every year. It includes a computer-generated deep retinal scan so the doc can detect any year-to-year deterioration. Have not yet started to take a supplement like B&L PreserVision, but have certainly considered it.

God bless you and your mom, ILLINOISLION, I hope she is near enough to you to to check in on her. My mom has been blind since the early 60's. She lived in Bethlem and when my youngest died at the age of 37 Karen & i moved her to the wilkes-Barre area and enrolledher into the senior citizens apartments in Luzerne in 2002. since the time she moved here, Karen & I have been doing her cleaning, shopping, etc. She was in hospice since May of 2018 and passed away 5 am Christmas morning.

 

[Nitt1300]

My father had the rarer type. As I recall, it was called "wet". Treated with laser surgery. Halted the progression and he had no further problems. Was still driving at 90 before the cancer came back...

That's what I have, too. I had the laser, and it helped but didn't cure the problem. But it seems to have stabilized a bit now, and the last three visits I didn't need the needle. BTW- you want to see an ophthalmologist or a retinal specialist for this issue.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

God bless you and your mom, ILLINOISLION, I hope she is near enough to you to to check in on her. My mom has been blind since the early 60's. She lived in Bethlem and when my youngest died at the age of 37 Karen & i moved her to the wilkes-Barre area and enrolledher into the senior citizens apartments in Luzerne in 2002. since the time she moved here, Karen & I have been doing her cleaning, shopping, etc. She was in hospice since May of 2018 and passed away 5 am Christmas morning.

Step, you are one hell of a great guy. We will meet somewhere someday, I don’t know how, but we will!

 

[L.A.Lion]

I tested positive for age-related general irritation.

GET OFF MY LAWN!

 

[anon_1eeb2b426hv3y]

I get them too- it sounds worse than it is- IF you have the right doctor, the technique is somewhat delicate. The toughest thing is to keep your eye STEADY when the needle is in

My mom gets them too. The shots are scary but Losing your eyesight to MD sounds worse.

 

[Ranger Dan]

That's what I have, too. I had the laser, and it helped but didn't cure the problem. But it seems to have stabilized a bit now, and the last three visits I didn't need the needle. BTW- you want to see an ophthalmologist or a retinal specialist for this issue.

Not to push my company’s device, but the goal should be early diagnosis before you have to take those steps.

 

[doctornick]

Not to push my company’s device, but the goal should be early diagnosis before you have to take those steps.

With all due respect, why? What benefit does the early diagnosis have in this situation?

I'm not trying to be flippant, but does getting such an early diagnosis improve outcomes? If you test positive on this dark adaptation, what would be the treatment/next steps? AFAIK, there isn't any treatment for macular degeneration until it becomes the advanced wet form, so basically you'd just have more years of worry and nothing to do about it.

You could start taking the eye vitamins early I suppose, but I don't think they've been shown to make any difference in people who have no clinical signs of macular degeneration.

 

[Ranger Dan]

With all due respect, why? What benefit does the early diagnosis have in this situation?

I'm not trying to be flippant, but does getting such an early diagnosis improve outcomes? If you test positive on this dark adaptation, what would be the treatment/next steps? AFAIK, there isn't any treatment for macular degeneration until it becomes the advanced wet form, so basically you'd just have more years of worry and nothing to do about it.

You could start taking the eye vitamins early I suppose, but I don't think they've been shown to make any difference in people who have no clinical signs of macular degeneration.

You would have to consult your doctor , but there were clinical studies done that confirmed slower progression of AMD through vitamin supplements (presiovision). Also, diet and exercise are a factor, so changing lifestyle is also helpful.

 

[Ranger Dan]

With all due respect, why? What benefit does the early diagnosis have in this situation?

I'm not trying to be flippant, but does getting such an early diagnosis improve outcomes? If you test positive on this dark adaptation, what would be the treatment/next steps? AFAIK, there isn't any treatment for macular degeneration until it becomes the advanced wet form, so basically you'd just have more years of worry and nothing to do about it.

You could start taking the eye vitamins early I suppose, but I don't think they've been shown to make any difference in people who have no clinical signs of macular degeneration.

You would have to consult doctor but studies have shown that supplements can slow the progression of AMD. lifestyle changes (smoking, diet and exercise) are also something that can be altered.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Diet? EXERCISE?

I can’t SEE either of those happening.....!