Just had my yearly eye exam because I have type II diabetes. The Ophthalmologist told me I have "ARM", he recommended that I take these vitamins daily; Lutein-10mg, Zinc-80mg, vitamin C-500mg, vitamin e-400IU, Zeaxanthin 2mg, and Copper 2mg. So I just bought a multi vitamin, some Zinc-50mg, and Lutein- 10mg pills to make up the shortfall in the multi vitamin pill.

Seeing how I am 69 years old, is this unusual given my age?

No. ARM is more common as you age. Wet macular degeneration is worse than dry. There is a new drug to treat the wet variety. Take the vitamins and keep your twice per year eye appointments. There is no cure but there is treatment that can help. Get a copy of the Amsler grid to get a heads up of problems. ARM is not related to diabetes.

Everything is downstream from type 2 diabetes in some way. Perhaps cleaning up the diet instead of popping a bunch of pills with unknown efficacy and/or bio-availability.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SigSentry,

This guy is a family physician not an Opthamologist. More of an internet personality pushing a keto diet. The vitamin usage which most eye docs suggest comes from a scientific study. It is the AREDS study. Look it up.

Granted. Probably a barbell approach. Maybe skip the Halloween candy this year.


https://www.nei.nih.gov/resear...ntly-asked-questions
Are the AREDS vitamins right for me?
In clinical trials, the AREDS and AREDS2 formulas benefited people with intermediate or late AMD. There was no benefit for people with early AMD or for people who do not have AMD.

Your primary care physician or eye care provider is in the best position to advise you on how treat your AMD. You may wish to discuss AREDS/AREDS2 supplements with your health care providers to decide which, if any, supplements are right for you.

Will taking the AREDS or AREDS2 supplements prevent AMD?

Nutritional supplements cannot prevent AMD. However, the AREDS/AREDS2 supplements may delay progression of intermediate to advanced AMD and may help you keep your vision longer. The participants AREDS trial have now been followed for more than 10 years, and the benefits of the AREDS formulation have persisted over this time.

Can diet alone provide the same levels of antioxidants and zinc as the AREDS or AREDS2 formulas?

No. The high levels of vitamins and minerals are difficult to achieve from diet alone. However, previous studies have suggested that people who have diets rich in green, leafy vegetables—a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin—have a lower risk of developing AMD. In the AREDS2 trial, the participants who benefitted most from taking lutein + zeaxanthin were those who did not get much of these nutrients in their diet. Within this group, those who received lutein/zeaxanthin supplements had a 26% reduced risk of developing advanced AMD compared with those who did not receive the supplements.

Warhorse:

I'm neither an eye doc nor nutritionist, but I do have glaucoma and extreme dry eye. My opthalmologist has told me that in addition to the AREDS vitamins, a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids from wild-caught salmon and organic cod liver oil capsules were extremely important in maintaining eye health in the long term, regardless of the diagnoses. The best price I've found on wild-caught Atlantic salmon is at Sam's Club. $24 for 2.5 pound bag. It's great with olive oil, salt and pepper. I try to eat it at least 2 x weekly. I also eat sardines and/or mackerel in olive oil from a can about 2 x weekly. Some people can't do it, but I don't mind. As for the organic cod liver oil capsules, I typically keep those in the refrigerator, as the cold helps keep down burps.

She also told me to eat leafy green vegetables as often as possible and avoid processed sugars.

This reflects what the others have said here. I wish you very good luck in helping to slow down this condition.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Center of Excellence. Located in Miami, these folks do plenty of research as well as surgery. Cleveland Clinic is also good.

These are so good. Don't taste like liver at all.

Cod Liver In Own Oil,4.3oz,10 pack https://a.co/d/6kqnCRs

I just had a full blown eye exam by an Ophthalmologist . Not a " Mall Doctor " . Because of my age he tested for Macular Degeneration . All good . He said I do have some Cataract issues but not bad enough to do anything about it yet .

A few years ago at my annual eye exam, the doc said he had a new digital eye system that allowed him to see things he wouldn't for another 10 years using his old fashioned inter-eye equipment. He did the scan and found that I had drusens - a precursor to AMD.

He said he wasn't alarmed because if he found this 10 years down the road with his old equipment, he'd just monitor it but now that he found it early, he suggested the AREDS2 OTC supplements.

I started taking them (Presser Vision by Bausch & Lomb) and available at Costco, Target or Amazaon, among other places. I take them 6+ days a week.

He said that in some cases it can reverse the drusens but if it kept them in check, that's the victory and some people don't respond with the AREDS2 at all.

At my last check he said that he couldn't find any drusens. He showed me the side by side and they were gone. He was stunned and asked the brand and dosing.

So I have a medical opinion based on objective findings that AREDS2 supplements work, at least for me. I continue to take them.

Just go get yourself some Presser Vision AREDS2 pills(Sams Club has them)and take one pill twice a day. I have been taking them for years and I feel it has slowed my macular degeneration quite a bit. Piece of cake!!

Yep, Imma gonna take the vitamins!

my mom is 88 and for a year now she has been doing treatments for her wet macular degeneration.

found during a yearly eye examination. she has no vision correction other than the need for reading glasses. no diabetes.

she receives an injection in the effected eye every 10-12 weeks. she also started taking AREDS supplement at first injection treatment as requested by her doctor. she has improved since day one. doctor continues to push out the next injection treatment a couple weeks after each visit because she is responding so well to the treatment. it is a lifetime treatment. so far insurance has paid, Medicare, but it is expensive. the charges are a few thousand per injection.

doc says some people do well and others don't with the injections. so far, she has done well, and he stated recently far better than he expected. I have and continue to go to each visit and ask about her ability to drive. he continues to give her the ok to drive. which is only a few miles from home for groceries and pharmacy. good luck with your treatments.

Good for your mom that she is responding. Macular degeneration runs in families.

Eliminate vegetable "seed" oils. Here endeth the lesson



Just saw the eye doc. A little more presbyopia at 59 but otherwise clean slate. Pressure 12 in each eye. Had them email my pics. I have stopped seed oils for the past 6 years as a result of a more ancestral diet. It makes me nervous for those who don't need glasses and don't have a reason to visit an ophthalmologist until they are symptomatic.

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