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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Monday, September 19, 2005 - 6:04 pm
Does anyone else have this problem? I have macular holes in both eyes but have adjusted quite well. I can read and sew. I have trouble crocheting but can crochet for short periods. I had a scary episode and ended up in the emergency room Sat. nite when I started getting flashes in my left eye. We, my DH and I, realize eventually my vision will worsen but we always hope it will hold off a few more years! This time I escaped with some bad floaters, the gel in my eye is pressing on the retina and the doctor will keep checking to make sure it doesn't tear. It would be nice to have someone else to talk with about it. And the tricks you use to live with this. I have a beautiful huge flat screen computer monitor so I can enjoy the internet. We have painted our home with pale semi-gloss enamel paints so the light bounces off the walls and makes it easier to see and I use the Ott natural lamps to see by. Please let me know how this has affected your life.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, September 19, 2005 - 7:49 pm
I don't have it, but my Dad had a mild form of macular degeneration, so I make sure to see the ophthalmologist every couple of years just in case. Anyway he put my dad on occuvite. I'm glad you have found some adaptations that help with yours, SG..
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 8:48 am
I don't have it either, Super, but at my last eye exam my doc told me I had the type of eyes that are prone to it (ie light coloured eyes).He could see some initial "damage' but none of it in areas that would affect my vision. He warned me to always wear sunglasses when outside and to start taking Lutein vitamins. I sure hope you find someone here who has it and can talk to you about it. Have you visited these sites?? 1) Macular Degeneration forum Archive of questions 2)The Eye Care forum 3)Women Speak Macular Degeneration forum 4)ehealth macular degeneration forum
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 12:41 pm
Thank you Jan, that was interesting reading and I marked them in my favorites. I have three different eye doctors, one is a renown retina specialist in Seattle so I am covered as far as medical supervision goes. I think they forget to share the everyday tips on living with this, also doctors are busy. Yesterday I mentioned to the doctor that I take flaxseed everyday and she says yes that is good for so many things. Hmmm, but that was research on my part! I guess we are all responsible for our own health and need to keep aware.
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 1:36 pm
Flaxseed is good for it? Do you eat the seeds or the crushed seeds (ie powder?) How do you eat it. I have seed (uncrushed) in the fridge but haven't used it yet.
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 1:45 pm
We take the flaxseed oil. My Dr. takes the regular flaxseed. She says it is good for colon cancer and tests are proving that it can even reverse the colon cancer. The oil is for circulatory and eyes. http://tinyurl.com/b27hh
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 1:54 pm
very interesting. I'll have to see if I can grind my seeds somehow.
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 5:51 pm
Supergranny, I have macular degeneration. Mine is the very slow progressive type <thankfully>! For the last 4 years, my vision has stabilized and I am so grateful for this. I, also, have iritis/uvites <sp?> in both eyes caused by Lupus. Black dots and floaters have become part of my vision. lol My central vision is corrected to 20/40 20/30. In 1995, I woke up one morning and couldn't see anything but gray in both eyes. I was terrified I would never see again. Both eyes were bleeding internally into the optic nerve. After just over 6 months of steroid use, my vision finally returned. Then in 1999, I was dxed with MD. I have terrific peripheral vision! lol Some of the things I do or don't do...I don't go to movies or shows because the time to readjust to bright lights is too slow for the brightness of the movie. My right eye takes almost two minutes to readjust to bright light. I never go outside without sunglasses. I try not to spend too much time on the computer and although reading is a passion of mine, I limit that also. It is very hard for people to understand that I 'see the big picture, but not the details.' I can see the forest, but not each tree, for example. I see the person, but not the details of the face. I, also, have a large flat screen monitor and it is so much better! Supergranny, I am so sorry for what you are going through! It can be a bother and very frustrating. I didn't drive for 10 years, but I finally found a dr. who could get the prescription up to where I feel comfortable on short errands. I don't go far from home and don't drive freeways. If you need to talk about MD, please email me anytime. Jan, those are some great sites!
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 7:12 pm
I always describe it as reading the word August and you see the Au and st...not the middle gu. I was diagnosed in 2001 and first year could not read at all but mine stabilized too. I rely alot on audio books but still love to curl up with a good book...even if it takes me two weeks to read instead of one day. From reading your posts Kstme I see you get alot of joy from your dogs too. I laugh at least once an hour with these pooches of mine. I feel they really keep me from falling in a depression. This episode this weekend with the flashing light in my left eye threw me for a loop but I am back on keel again. We walked the girls down to the beach this morning. Passed a doe and her fawn in the dunes. It was a beautiful day and the tourists are gone so the beach was empty. And I thought, I have so much to be thankful for, I will be okay.
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 7:04 am
Supergranny, I remember when your beach was nothing more than clam beds and seagulls. I spent a lot of my childhood there and at Westport. Lived in Aberdeen for 10 years...don't admit that too often! One thing I have found over the last two years...I have had to give up reading most of the threads. I seek out very few and scan the headings, but to read them all is too difficult. Yes, I'm with you regarding the puppers! They bring such laughter without even trying! 
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Pyro
Member
07-08-2005
| Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 11:36 pm
I have had the "dry" kind of Macular Degeneration, in my right eye for about five years. It runs in my family. My cousins, who are in their eighties, have the "Wet" kind and have progressed much faster than I. Their's comes from both Ma and Pa. I use a lot of Zink and Lutein, also Ocuvite and flax seed oil. I originally was referred to an eye dr. because I have light flashes (which seem to have improved). He said my retina is trying to detach. Another guy said it is either attached or not. My left eye, it seems is just beginning. There has been no change all this time. I do pass the driving test, but don't ask me to bare eyeball fine print.
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Supergranny
Member
02-03-2005
| Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 9:54 am
PYRO..It seems like the doctors themselves have different opinions! Mine says the light flashes is from the gel getting attached to side and there is a danger of tearing. Mine is the dry kind too. My mom had it so it does seem it is be strong in families. KSTME...you should see Ocean Shores now. We even have a 4 screen Cinema, bowling alley, beautiful library but still the same old IGA!
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Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 4:24 pm
In yahoo news today it says you should eat foods containing Zinc,Beta Carotene,& Vitamins C&E. It allegedly decreses the occurence of MD. I hope I helped somebody 
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 1:40 pm
Just happened on this thread. I know nothing personally about the condition, but the thought of it is pretty scary to me. Bravo to those of you facing this and dealing with it as well as you are. I have a book called, Prescription for Herbal Healing, by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC. Below you can find her description of MD and her recommendations. Macular Degeneration The retina is the 'screen' at the back of the eye on which light that enters the eye is thrown. Macular Degeneration is the progressive destruction of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for fine vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss among people over age 55 in North America. About 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry (atrophic) or wet (exudative). In the dry form, which is more common, cells in the macula accumulate sacs of debris called drusens. These drusens swell and block off circulation to the microscopic blood vessels that serve the macula. In the wet form, blood vessels themselves swell, and unnecessary vessels form beneath the retina. These vessels leak fluid and may bleed, which causes scarring. Laser surgery may be used o destroy the leaking blood vessels, although this surgery is not suitable for everyone. Aging, atherosclerosis, exposure to environmental toxins, high blood pressure and smoking all contribute to blood-vessel damage in the eye. As blood vessels are damaged, less oxygen reaches the retina, and the blood vessels constrict to preserve the available oxygen. If normal blood flow is restored from time to time, the vessels don't relax right away, and oxygen-rich blood gathers in the retina. As a result, free radicals, which are oxygen-based, accumulate and cause damage.Heredity also seems to lay a role in the disorder. Herbal treatments can help to stop the breakage of blood vessels and to preserve night vision and the ability to see in bright light. Ongoing use of herbs is necessary and safe for macular degeneration. Beneficial Herbs
Herbs | Form and Dosage | Comments | Bilberry | Tablets Take 120 mg 3 times a day | Stimulates production of rhodopsin--a pigment essential to night vision | | Ginkgo* | Ginkgolide tablets. Take 120 to 160 mg in 2-3 doses daily | Stops breakage of blood vessels and increases oxygen supply to the eye | | Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) | Grapeseed or pine-bark extract tablets. Take 200 mg daily | Reduces sensitivity to glare and bright lights Helps macular tissue adjust to oxygen fluctuations | | Quercetin** | Tablets. Take 125-250 mg 3 times daily-between meals | Protects the macula from effects of low oxygen levels and neurological poisons | Precautions * Do NOT use ginkgo if you are taking blood-thinning meds. Discuss its use with your doc before having any type of surgery. ** Do NOT use quercetin if you are taking cyclosporine (Neoral SAndimunne) or nifedpine (Procardia). Recommendations 1. Eat spinach and corn regularly. These vegetables are sources of the compounds lutein and zeaxanthin, which are similar to Vitamin A. Additionally, spinach contains beta carotene. Eating 2 ounces (60 gr) of spinach daily and substituting corn flour for wheat flour (150 gr or 5 oz daily) for 3 to 4 months can increase the thickness and health of the macula. Orange peppers, kiwi fruit, grapes, summer squash, orange juice and egg yolks are also useful sources of lutein and zeanxanthin. 2. Vitamin E. Take 200 to 600 international units of Vitamin E daily, as it repairs early damage to the macula caused by excessive exposure to sunlight. At least once a week eat 1 to 2 servings of nuts or seeds as a complementary source of this vitamin. 3. Vitamin C. Take up to 1,000 mg of Vitamin C daily. Used over a period of 10-15 years, daily Vitamin C reduces the risk of developing macular degeneration by approximately 10 percent. Using more than 1,000 mg of Vitamin C daily does NOT increase its benefit. 4. Zinc. Take 30 mg of zinc daily, as this mineral fights toxic-free radicals. 5. Control blood pressure and cholesterol. To get the best results from surgery, try to maintain good circulatory health. This means keeping high blood pressure, if present, under control, and keeping cholesterol and triglyceride levels down. 6. Avoid: alcohol, cigarette smoke, all sugars, saturated fats and foods containing fats and oils that have been subjected to heat and/or exposed to the air--such as fried foods, hamburgers, luncheon meats, and roasted nuts. Considerations A. Shiitake mushrooms. Japanese researchers are exploring the use of interferon, a substance produced by the immune system, to reverse the overgrowth of blood vessels. Shiitake mushroom increases the body's own production of interferon. Take 3 grams of shiitake in tablet form 3 times daily. B. Understand your predisposition. Although sun exposure is a key part of macular degeneration development, there are factors that predispose an individuals to sun injury. People who have blue eyes are more susceptible to macular damage. In addition, sensitivity to glare, or a tendency to burn instead of tan is a factor in macular degeneration development. Total number of hours of exposure to the sun does not predict the risk of macular degeneration; in fact, people with macular degeneration spend less time in the sun than people who do not have the disease. C. Wear UV sunglasses. If you burn rather than tan, wearing UV-blocking sunglasses is an important way of protecting against macular degeneration. Be sure to get sunglasses made to block ultraviolet (UV) light. Regular sunglasses can cause more harm than good; the dark lenses cause the pupil to dilate, admitting more light, but do not filter out the macula-damaging UV rays.
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Cathie
Member
08-16-2000
| Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 9:07 pm
I work in pediatric eye care so I don't deal with MD alot, but my 42 year old niece has it, along with retinitis pigmentosa. She got the RP from her mom and the MD from her dad's family, so she is missing both central and peripheral vision, seeing through a small donut. She is blessed with a good support system, including her dogs, horses, llama and a pot belly pig!
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