About 200,000 new cases of advanced, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are identified each year in the United States, many older Americans with more severe or "wet" forms of AMD endured inevitable, gradual loss of central vision.
Lucentis in clinical trials has been shown to stop and, in many cases, reverse at least some vision loss in most people with advanced AMD. Another drug closely related to Lucentis, known as Avastin (bevacizumab), also has been shown to be a highly effective and far cheaper alternative for lower-income individuals with advanced AMD.
The problem is that Avastin is FDA-approved only for treatment of colon and other cancers, but not for macular degeneration. As an alternative, many eye doctors have been using Avastin as an "off-label" treatment.
Pharmaceutical companies are driven by financial intersts, while physicians with patient care. Here is an excellent article that summarizes it.

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Relationship between omega-3 fatty acids, risk of AMD

According to a study published online June 9 in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the association between omega-3 fatty acids and lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) appears to be modified by other dietary supplements and disease stage.
For the study, researchers from Tufts University performed an analysis of data from 2,924 patients participating in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, an eight-year supplementation trial. Dietary intake was assessed using food-frequency questionnaires.
The investigators found that a high intake of the omega-3s docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid...was associated with a lower risk of progression to advanced AMD. The team also found that patients who had low glycemic index diets and high consumption of the omega-3 fatty acids had lower risks of progression to advanced AMD than patients with high intakes alone, but patients in the early stages of AMD...only derived a benefit from consuming large amounts of DHA if they were not taking additional supplementation as part of the study.

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According to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) should eat oily fish at least twice a week, because omega-3 fatty acids found in abundance in oily fish appear to slow or even halt the progress of both early and late stage disease.

BBC reports that, for the study, researchers at Tufts University examined data on almost 3,000 people taking part in a trial of vitamins and supplements. The team found that progression to both dry and wet forms of advanced AMD disease was 25 percent less likely among those eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, people with advanced AMD who also consumed a low glycemic-index diet and who took supplemental antioxidant vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and zinc appeared to reduce their risk of disease progression by...up to 50 percent. The authors suggested that eating two to three servings of fatty fish...every week would achieve the recommended daily intake (650mg) of omega-3.

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Low anti oxidants and blue light exposure may lead to AMD

Med Page Today reported, Some cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may arise from a combination of low plasma levels of antioxidants and exposure to blue light from the sun, according to research in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. Researchers studied 4,753 participants older than 65, who all provided blood samples, underwent fundus photography, and answered a dietary questionnaire. Sun exposure was estimated from participants' self-reported information about work, outdoor activities, use of hats, and eyewear (including contact lenses, glasses, and sunglasses). Complete data were available for 101 participants with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, 2,182 participants with early-stage age-related macular degeneration, and 2,117 controls.

Medscape added that the researchers concluded that there was no association between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD or early AMD. In participants in the lowest quartile of antioxidant level (vitamin C, zeaxanthin, vitamin E, and dietary zinc), there were significant associations between blue light exposure and neovascular AMD. Furthermore, odds ratio (OR) was approximately 1.4 for one SD unit increase in blue light exposure, but these ORs for blue light were higher with combined low antioxidant levels, especially vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E (OR, 3.7; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.6 - 8.9), which were also associated with early stages of AMD.

The U.K.'s Telegraph notes that AMD, in which the central part of the retina of the eye gradually thins, leaves one in 10 sufferers blind. Lead researcher Astrid Fletcher, Ph.D., of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said, In the absence of cost-effective screening methods to identify people in the population with early AMD, we suggest that recommendations on (eye) protection and diet target the general population, especially middle-aged people

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Hurler regains sight after 'miracle' diet supplement

The Irish Independent reported that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition affecting the central part of the retina at the back of the eye. AMD affects one in 10 people over the age of 50, and is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world.



Dara Kilmartin, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, explained that, by 2020, the number of people with AMD is going to at least double, because people are living longer. Dr. Kilmartin said that the risk of AMD becomes greatest over the age of 65. One in five people over 75 will have AMD. Dr. Kilmartin pointed out that risk factors include age, family history, and smoking. In addition, there is a possible link between AMD and obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Dr. Kilmartin urged older people to get their eyes tested more often, and to check their 'straight ahead' vision" in each eye separately. The article also discussed the experience of Rosemary Smith, a patient with the wet form of AMD, who is now a peer counselor with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland.

Here is a story of remarkable improvement from Vitamin Therapy

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