Macular Degeneration Treatment
Macular degeneration treatment is a complicated subject, and one that is difficult to approach. One somewhat surprising aspect of treatment is the use of vitamins. Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as Zinc and Copper have been proven to slow down the progression of Macular Degeneration. This is one of the only areas of medicine where vitamins have actually been proven to have a medical benefit. The study that gave this proof is called the AREDS study, and it was completed in the United States in 2001.
The group that was proven to benefit the most were actually patients that had very early signs of the problem, called drusen. Specifically, patients with medium sized drusen had the most benefit. There is a special formulation without beta-carotene for smokers, who were found to have a higher level of lung cancer with that vitamin.
Patients should also have regular examinations, by a qualified eye doctor, every 6 months, including dilating eyedrops. They should also be monitoring their own vision at home with an Amsler Grid. Any changes in that grid should result in an immediate call to the eye doctor for examination.
