September is Healthy Aging Month As people age, they are at higher risk for certain eye diseases and conditions that can cause low vision and impact quality of life. These include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. September is Healthy Aging Month and a great time to talk about preserving vision as… Continue reading Health Tips to Reduce Risks of Age-Related Eye Diseases
Tag: Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Mediterranean Diet Can Be a Sight-Saver
European researchers have found that people who adhere to a Mediterranean diet can cut their risk of late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 41 percent. It’s been known that poor diet plays a part in the development of AMD, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. But this newest research expands on previous studies… Continue reading Mediterranean Diet Can Be a Sight-Saver
NIH Discovery Brings Stem Cell Therapy for Dry AMD Closer to the Clinic
Scientists at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, report that tiny tube-like protrusions called primary cilia on cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) — a layer of cells in the back of the eye — are essential for the survival of the retina’s light-sensing photoreceptors. The discovery has… Continue reading NIH Discovery Brings Stem Cell Therapy for Dry AMD Closer to the Clinic
The Trigger for Macular Degeneration Has Been Discovered
In a major step forward in the battle against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville have discovered a critical trigger for the damaging inflammation that ultimately robs millions of their sight. The finding may allow doctors to… Continue reading The Trigger for Macular Degeneration Has Been Discovered
Key Compounds to Resolve Abnormal Vascular Growth in AMD Have Been Identified
A compound of specific bioactive products from a major family of enzymes reduced the severity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a preclinical model, according to a study led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers and published online August 21st 2017 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A release from Massachusetts Eye… Continue reading Key Compounds to Resolve Abnormal Vascular Growth in AMD Have Been Identified
Findings Suggest Underdiagnosis of AMD Not Uncommon
Approximately 25 percent of eyes deemed to be normal based on dilated eye examination by a primary eye care ophthalmologist or optometrist had macular characteristics that indicated age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published IN APRIL 2017 by JAMA Ophthalmology. A release from the publishers explains that approximately 14 million Americans have AMD… Continue reading Findings Suggest Underdiagnosis of AMD Not Uncommon
Fish May Hold the Key to Curing Eye Illnesses
New research has raised the possibility that human retinas may someday be induced to regenerate themselves, thus restoring vision. Fish retinas have this self-regeneration ability, and it was while investigating the phenomenon in zebrafish that biologists from Vanderbilt University discovered a “signal” that appears to trigger the self-repair process. If confirmed by follow-up studies, the… Continue reading Fish May Hold the Key to Curing Eye Illnesses
New Model for Earlier Treatments for AMD
An international team of researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, University College London and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA have developed a cell culture model that could help to develop earlier treatment strategies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A release from Queen’s University Belfast notes that AMD, which is the third most prevalent cause… Continue reading New Model for Earlier Treatments for AMD
Hope for Better Treatments for AMD
According to a release from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), one approach that researchers have explored to treat retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involves transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Induced pluripotent stem cells are cells that have the potential to regenerate… Continue reading Hope for Better Treatments for AMD
5 Tips for Protecting Against a Source of Blindness
Seniors are at heightened risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among older Americans. The disease damages central vision, limiting a person’s ability to read, write and recognize faces. “There is still a worrying lack of awareness when it comes to AMD, despite it being the number one cause of blindness… Continue reading 5 Tips for Protecting Against a Source of Blindness
People Who Have AMD Can Use Desk Top Touch Screens Accurately
Older adults with central vision loss caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have no problem with accuracy in performing touch screen tasks, according to a study in the October 2015 issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer. A release from the… Continue reading People Who Have AMD Can Use Desk Top Touch Screens Accurately
AMD and Good Health Habits
People with a genetic predisposition for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) significantly increased their odds of developing the blinding eye disorder if they had a history of heavy smoking and consistently did not exercise or eat enough fruits and vegetables, according to new research. Eating a healthy diet and getting exercise have been shown in earlier… Continue reading AMD and Good Health Habits
Calcium Deposits Linked to AMD
Microscopic spheres of calcium phosphate have been linked to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of blindness, according to research led by University College London. A release from UCl reports that AMD affects one in five people over 75, causing their vision to slowly deteriorate, but the cause of the most… Continue reading Calcium Deposits Linked to AMD
Top-Selling Vitamins for AMD Have Misleading Claims
A multi-university study analyzed popular vitamins that purportedly help treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the United States. The goal was to determine whether the products’ formulations and claims are consistent with scientific findings. The team determined that of the 11 supplements analyzed, seven do not adhere to proven formulas… Continue reading Top-Selling Vitamins for AMD Have Misleading Claims
New Laser Therapy Helps Slow AMD
A low impact, low energy laser treatment for patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has produced positive results by reducing indicators of the disease, according to research done at the University of Melbourne. The team found that unlike other laser treatments, the new and faster laser did not result in damage to the retina,… Continue reading New Laser Therapy Helps Slow AMD