Home : health : Macular Degeneration: Nutrition And Therapies That Help Manage It

Macular degeneration: Nutrition and therapies that help manage it

Macular degeneration: Nutrition and therapies that help manage it

Macular degeneration is a condition that compromises vision due to gradual deterioration of the retina. This condition is characterized in two segments: wet and dry macular degeneration. The ultimate symptom of both these conditions is loss of vision. However, wet macular degeneration also accompanies leaky blood vessels under the retina. This article focuses on a food regimen for macular degeneration and discusses medications and therapies that aim to improve the said condition.

Foods to eat

Spinach, kale, and carrots
Vegetables that are dark in color are often recommended to patients with macular degeneration. They are high in carotenoid, a nutrient that is helpful in preventing vision loss. Some other vegetables that fit this category include sweet potatoes and colored peppers.

Oranges and sweet lime
Fruits that are a rich source of vitamin C help prevent vision loss and promote the build-up of collagen in the body. Generous amounts of collagen alleviate the build-up of leaky blood vessels, which is a symptom of wet macular generation. Besides oranges and sweet lime, fruits like pineapple, kiwi, and berries are also potent sources of vitamin C.

Fatty fish
Foods like fatty fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil can help prevent the development of macular degeneration as they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Besides, this nutrient also promotes eye health, preventing premature loss of vision. These foods contain unsaturated fats and vitamin E, both of which help unclog blood vessels.

Foods to avoid

Canned foods
Patients with macular degeneration must avoid processed foods, and canned sodas as these come with high levels of sodium and fats. The saturated fats that these foods contain can clog up the blood vessels and arteries, enhancing the chances of leaky blood vessels in people with macular degeneration.

Sugary drinks
Carbonated and sugary drinks contain unhealthy amounts of sugar, which can be fatal to eye health and the body’s overall health. As a result, they should be avoided.

Medication and therapies that help with macular degeneration
Besides nutritional treatment, patients with macular degeneration also have to rely on medications to prevent further damage to their vision.

Laser photocoagulation
This is the most convenient way of treating wet macular degeneration. In this, medication is administered intravenously, and the laser activates the medicines. This form of macular degeneration treatment relies on low-level, non-thermal shining laser light that’s distributed into the patient’s eye.

Eye injections
Medications like anti-VEGF, Eylea, Lucentis, Avastin, and BioUV are administered through timely injections in the eyes. These medicines are made to prevent vision loss and any associated symptoms of macular degeneration.

Gene therapy
This is an alternative option of timely injections, although the procedure remains the same. This therapy involves getting an injection in a surgical procedure, enabling the eyes to produce anti-VEGF medicine. This procedure eliminates the need for timely injections.

Popular Reads

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

Here’s how you can get your allergies detected

How many times have allergies caused you to sneeze every time you take a ride in the open air? Or rashes on coming in contact with a plant? Or swelling as a result of a peanut allergy? Sneezing, running noses, watery eyes, rashes, swelling all these reactions due to allergies can be quite distressing. Allergies are more common and can be caused by various things. The cause of allergies is still unknown, it could be genetic or just a singular development. However, they can be easily detected by just visiting your doctor and undergoing some tests. Read on to know more about what are allergies and how to detect them. What are allergies? The immune system is designed to fight any entrant in the body that it recognizes as foreign. However, at times, the immune system becomes over vigilant and starts fighting foreign entrants that are not harmful. Substances that cause the immune system to react this way are called “allergens”, and when you display symptoms of these interactions, you are diagnosed “allergic” to the substance. Allergens can include plants, grass, pollen, dust, food, animal dander among others. While symptoms like running nose, sneezing, watery eyes, rashes, itching, and others, are all attributed to allergic reactions.
5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

5 frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease

A common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating and progressive disease that affects the brain and motor functions of the body. The disease progresses through stages. It begins to affect the regions of the brain that control language, thought, and memory. In most of the cases, it begins with a slight memory loss. In the final stages, Alzheimer’s disease leads to the loss of various abilities including motor skills, speech, and independent movement. Here are a few frequently asked questions about Alzheimer’s. What are the causes? Alzheimer’s disease does not have any definite cause. Research has been unable to conclude whether Alzheimer’s is developed by one cause or multiple ones. The exact cause of the ailment is not yet known. However, there are multiple factors that may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One of the major causes is ageism. Also, a family history of Alzheimer’s is another major risk. This may lead to the inheritance of genes that cause this disease. Some other possible risk factors that can cause Alzheimer’s include high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol. What are the symptoms? In most cases, the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease is a loss of cognitive ability.
Four important steps in anemia management

Four important steps in anemia management

Hemoglobin is a protein molecule in the red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Its richness in iron gives blood its red color. Anemia is a condition where a person has low hemoglobin or red blood cell count. From an underlying disease to nutrient deficiencies, there are a lot of factors that contribute to the onset of this condition. There are many forms of anemia. Some of them include: Iron deficiency anemia -This is caused due to low iron levels in the blood. Most common causes of this type of anemia are heavy menstruation or internal bleeding. Vitamin deficiency anemia – This type of anemia is caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, B-12 or folate Aplastic anemia – Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow fail to produce enough red blood cells, leading to aplastic anemia. Sickle cell anemia – This is a condition characterized by the development of abnormal crescent-shaped red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia – This is a blood disorder caused due to premature death of red blood cells. Thalassemia – This is caused due to low amounts of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood disorders vary in duration and severity. Prompt diagnosis, and treatment are important because anemia could also be due to an underlying condition.