Ask A Nurse

Article submitted by Darcy Swaim.
For more information, she can be reached by e-mail: darcy@arborose.com.

Dear Darcy,
Recently my eye doctor told me I have macular degeneration. What exactly is macular degeneration and is there anything I can do to cure it or stop it from progressing?
Thank you,
Martin in Gilbert, Arizona

Dear Martin,
The retina is the back surface inside the eyeball, opposite the lens. It contains millions of light sensitive cells, called rods and cones. An image projected by the lens onto the retina is sensed by the rods and cones as different intensities of light and different colors. The central portion of the retina directly opposite the lens, is called the macula. It is rich in cones, the cells which enable us to see fine detail and color. Since the brain cleverly compensates for the missing pieces of what you are looking at, "the picture", once someone has symptoms the disease is fairly advanced. Symptoms vary from person to person. Sometimes only one eye is affected and the other eye may or may not be affected for many years. When both eyes are affected reading or doing work close up can be greatly impaired. For what it's worth know that you're not alone. A new case of adult macular degeneration (MD) is diagnosed every 3 minutes in the United States. Unfortunately, there is no cure for MD. Here are some things you can do to help prevent or slow the progression of MD.

Start a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
Wear sunglasses for UV protection
Increase your antioxidant intake. For example, Lutein is found in dark leafy vegetables. Lutein supplements often contain zeaxanthin, a related chemical. Foods high in zeaxanthin include oranges, honeydew, orange bell peppers, and mangos.
Do not smoke and avoid exposure to second hand smoke.

If you haven't been to an optometrist or ophthalmologist recently maybe now is the time. Early diagnosis is important. Consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet or taking any dietary supplements.

* Information provided in Ask A Nurse is not intended as a substitute for seeking medical attention.