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Eye Vitamins , nutritional and lifestyle changes for macular degeneration

there is no cure for macualr degeneration,
However nutritional therapy and lifestyle changes has proven to be extremely valuable at helping to prevent the dry form of Macular Degeneration from progressing to more advanced stages. I have personally been helping 1000s of patients with Macular Degeneration in clinical practice for over 15 years. I have seen the positive benefits patients can realistically obtain thru nutritional therapy and life style changes. Many patients have been referred to our centers in Florida (Lange Eye Care and Associates, Lange Eye Institute) for low vision rehabilitation with almost no hope and have decreased their dependence on low vision devices thru proper nutritional guidance and life style adjustments. All of the Doctors at the Lange Eye Care and Associates locations and The Lange Eye Institute in central and north central Florida have extensively used proper diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes to benefit the patient with Macular Degeneration. We have seen some incredible improvements in vision as well as overall health in these patients. It is a normal part of our comprehensive examination to discuss and educate these options with each patient. I will go over a list of things that we discuss with our patients that have any form of Macular Degeneration. This lists was comprised based on solid scientific evidence that is in the literature and from positive results we have seen clinically in a very large Macular Degeneration practice.

1. Low fat diet (decrease saturated fats and trans fatty acids) eat more chicken, turkey, cold water fish and soy products like garden burgers, and tofu. Eat less red meat, whole milk and cheese. Eat the breast meat of chicken and turkey from free roaming organically raised (if possible), avoid deep frying and cook by broiling, grilling, boiling or baking. Be careful when eating fish because many large fish have toxic levels of mercury, lead and PCBs. Eat small fish like sardines, anchovies and herring. Try to avoid farm raised fish and eat wild fish especially wild Alaskan salmon.

2. Eat more dark green leafy vegetables (preferably organically grown), gently steam, boil or simmer in olive oil (gently cooking helps to break down the cell wall releasing the bioavailability of the greens. Juicing is also a good way of getting these nutrients. Lutein is abundant in dark green leafy vegetables and has been shown to potentially help slow down the devastating properties of Macular Degeneration. If you are taking a blood thinner like Coumadin consult with your physician prior to consuming more dark green leafy vegetables.

3. Eat more orange bell peppers (preferably organically grown), gently cooked or raw. Orange bell peppers are very high in Zeaxanthin. Scientists believe this nutrient when combined with Lutein helps filter out dangerous HEV light (blue light) and may help maintain macular health. Sauté orange peppers and spinach together for good macular health.

4. Consume more darkly pigmented berries (preferably organically grown). Studies may indicate that eating more dark berries like blueberries and black berries may help preserve macular functioning. If you are a diabetic consult with your physician prior to eating more fruits.

5. Increase intake of omega three fatty acids by taking micro distilled fish oil. Do to the large amount of contaminants in fish, micro or molecularly distilled fish oil may be a better option to eating the fish.

6. Decrease intake of salt (Na), new studies may indicate that decreasing salt intake may decrease drusen in macular degeneration.

7. Wear Blue Blocking sunglasses especially if you have had cataract surgery. There is some strong science that indicates blocking the high energy visible spectrum (400nm-500nm), The Blue Light, may help prevent damage to the macular. Yellow, Amber and Orange colored lenses are good at blocking the blue light. Wear them anytime you are out doors and it is daylight. I recommend polarized blue blockers while in the sun. Non polarized while indoors or on cloudy and overcast days.

8. NO SMOKING, if you do smoke try to quit. Smoking lowers your serum antioxidant levels in your blood and thus causes a nutritional deficiency at the cellular level. Second hand smoke is just as bad. Smokers increase their risk dramatically of developing more advanced stages of Macular Degeneration. If you smoke do not take high levels of supplemental beta carotene.

9. Cardiovascular exercise 20-30 minutes 5 times a week (discuss with physician first). Studies indicate that patients that did cardiovascular exercise (treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical, walking , jogging, swimming etc..) were less likely to develop Macular Degeneration.

10. If you are overweight, LOOSE WEIGHT!! Overweight people are twice as likely to develop Macular Degeneration.

11. Control systemic health problems like; High Blood pressure, Diabetes and elevated Cholesterol.

12. New body of science may indicate that drinking Red wine in moderation, green tea, more soy products and eating curry may have some positive impact on Macular Degeneration, cataracts and inflammatory diseases in the eye.

13. Take a good nutritional supplement based on the latest scientific data. Preferably one that does not have any artificial dyes and synthetic nutrients. Be careful of supplements that have only "window dressing" amounts of specific nutrients. Many vitamin companies will add tiny amounts of popular nutrients to be able to put it on the label. These small amounts may have no nutritional value. Patients must also be extremely careful not to take too many supplements as well. Vitamins can build up toxic levels especially the fat soluble forms. The company that has taken all of the current science into consideration in the development of their vitamins is Fortifeye Vitamins. Fortifeye Vitamins are all natural with no dyes. Therapeutic levels of nutrients and no window dressing. Fortifeye Vitamins mission is to promote proper vision and whole body health with the right ingredients at the right levels. I recommend to all of my patients the Fortifeye Complete which is a combination of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, enzymes, whole foods and omega three essential fatty acids designed to lay a strong foundation for eye and total body health.. If the patient has Macular Degeneration then add one pill from the Fortifeye Macular Defense to the Fortifeye Complete. This is a nutritional system when the two are combined to help prevent any further vision loss from Macular Degeneration. I have seen many patients in my clinical practice improve, some dramatically while taking these supplements. Many doctors throughout the country are now recommending Fortifeye Complete and Fortifeye Macular Defense to their patients with Macular Degeneration. Fortifeye will stay abreast of the most current science in regards to nutritional supplementation for the eye and body. Fortifeye vitamins for Macular Degeneration and total body health are constantly evolving.

So you can see it is a rather lengthy and detailed approach to help these patients with Macular Degeneration. If patients would only do these 13 things religiously I feel we would see much less vision loss from Macular Degeneration and have a much healthier society! Remember there is no miracle cure for macular degeneration. However if you implement the 13 steps I outlined you will decrease your risk of going blind from Macular Degeneration. I see the benefits patients receive daily in clinical practice.

Michael P. Lange, O.D.
Lange Eye Care and Associates
The Lange Eye Institute
(Located in Central/North Central Florida)
www.langeeyecare.com

Follow Ups:

• Eye Vitamins , nutritional & lifestyle changes for macular degeneration Archive Walt Stoll [93.1903] 08:03:27 02/04/08 (0)
• Re: Eye Vitamins , nutritional and lifestyle changes for macular degeneration Sheridan [10940.3043] 02:41:49 02/04/08 (0)
• Thank you! Ellen [10931.2450] 21:35:05 02/03/08 (0)

In Reply to: Eye Vitamins , nutritional and lifestyle changes for macular degeneration posted by Dr. Mike [15.4443] on February 03, 2008 at 21:12:36:

Both my parents had macular degeneration in their 80s. I forwarded your posting to my brother, since we're both at risk. Thank you for posting!

In Reply to: Eye Vitamins , nutritional and lifestyle changes for macular degeneration posted by Dr. Mike [15.4443] on February 03, 2008 at 21:12:36:

My mother has just had a big bleed and now is totally blind cannot tell night from day in her only good eye. She has wet MD. She is going to have a vitrectomy to try to suck out some of the jellied blood...to get possibly some night vision. Any suggestions in this situation or is it too late as it seems. She always took a supplement called macuvision her in Australia and still does. But she ate alot of that cheap margerine and I think that has been linked to MD.

Sheridan

Sheridan

In Reply to: Eye Vitamins , nutritional and lifestyle changes for macular degeneration posted by Dr. Mike [15.4443] on February 03, 2008 at 21:12:36:

Thanks, Dr Mike.

I have seen similar improvements with MY patients with MD in my practice for the last 15 years of my holistic practice! Of course, I eventually added Chelation to the mix and got additional benefits.

Let us know when you-all have a complete program combining what you presently are doing WITH chelation.

Keep up the good work.

Walt