my dad was diagnosed with macular degeneration

I am very saddened to learn that my dad has just been diagnosed with macular degeneration.  He has always had perfect vision, but suddenly last week he felt that he could not see well with his right eye.  On examination they found that he has wet macular degeneration in his right eye and dry macular degeneration in his left eye.  He is having medications injected into his eye but I am really afraid for him.  He is 63 years old, he just retired and we are hoping that he can enjoy his life.  I am praying that the meds help restore his vision and that he does not lose his eyesight in the other eye.  So far he is seeing well out of his other eye.  I am really afraid for him and don't know how to advise him at this time.  Can anyone help me with this?  Can everyone also pray for him, he is the sweetest, jolliest man I have ever known and I don't think he himself understands what is happening to him. 

Thank you,

Sharmin

Dear Sharmin.
It is sad to hear about your Dad. at the same time its not as bad as it appears .I came across what kind of treatment is availaible and seems that lots can be done these days I also recently read somewhere about a camera lens that is now being inserted in the eyes to give better eyesite.
Having said that I wish him good luck and try not to worry too much.
Love Kathy



This info is from Google
What treatments are available?

If the AMD is detected late in its progression, such as when severe scarring at the macula has already developed, vision is unlikely to recover.

Management of the disease is then aimed at preventing further deterioration, as well as early detection and treatment of a similar disease in the other eye. In the advanced form of the disease, low vision aids such as mini-telescopes and magnifying glasses may help some patients.

If AMD is detected early, there are better chances for treatment and there is a greater likelihood of improving vision or slowing the deterioration, depending on the form of the disease.

The types of treatment available for AMD include:

Observation with regular check-ups for mild and non-progressive forms of the disease.
Destruction of the abnormal new vessels in wet AMD using:
direct laser ablation
transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT)
photodynamic therapy (PDT
Injections inside or around the eye can be used to reverse the development of abnormal new vessels and control inflammation. The type of medications used include:
Anti-angiogenesis drugs (Macugen, Lucentis, Avastin)
Steroids (Anecortave, Triamcinolone Acetonide)
Surgery can be performed to clear the blood from under the macula using an injection of a drug (tissue plasminogen activator) and gas into the eye to move the blood away from the macula.
Nutritional supplements containing selenium, zinc, Vitamin A, C and E may help patients at risk of AMD. However, such supplements in high doses can have side effects and your doctor should be consulted before beginning long-term supplement taking.
What should I do if I think I have macular degeneration?

Anyone who develops blurring of central vision should be examined by a retinal specialist (an eye doctor specialised in retinal diseases) as soon as possible. Tests may be required to help in diagnosis and assessment of the condition. Treatment will be based on findings of the examination and investigations. Your retinal specialist will be the best person to explain the problem and the treatment options.

 

 
   
 
 
 
 

Kathy,

Thank you so much for this information and for your kind words.  I have been worried sick all day.  I hope that something can be done before he loses too much vision. 

Thanks again for the info my dear,

Sharmin

Sharmin,

I am really sorry to hear about your dad,i really didn't know much about Macular Degeneration,i just googled it,i hope it won't get worse and meds will be able to stop it from advancing,please convey my regards to your dad  .

Zaini.

Sharmin,

I just woke up and thinking very hard. My father has bad eyes. Since birth, but worsened by lyme disease. He gave people also 1 advice, but i cannot remember it now.

I hope the meds are working and i wish him recovery.


Hugs, Dore

sharmin

I am sorry to hear about your father but hopefully there will be treatment for him. Wish him recovery.

Take care
Jade.

Sharmin, early detection and treatment is the key. And don't let the doc use your father has object to try new things. Let him never go alone to the doc's (and ask copy of results).

Sleep well, Dore
ps this are indeed my standard sayings when someone in the blood world ask me for help. And Sharmin. You are one of the people who feed me with knowledge about the blood wold. Thank you!

Sharmin,

Macular degeneration seems to be mostly linked to age, but I did find this. It's worth trying to see if the degeneration can be slowed, along with all the other benefits that can be found in general from using supplements.

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp

The National Eye Institute's Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking a specific high-dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduces the risk of advanced AMD and its associated vision loss. Slowing AMD's progression from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage will save the vision of many people.

One of my brothers has this and he can no longer drive at night as a result.

Thank you kindly for your words Kathy, Zaini, Jade, Dore and Andy.  My fear was that my dad may go blind as a result of this very soon.  My dad started taking Vitalux a couple of days ago to protect the eye that has dry MD.  He can still see almost 20/20 out of that eye right now, our hope is to protect that eye.  I understand that a few new treatments are on the horizon - such as a radiation treatment in Europe as well as a stem cell treatment.  The treatments are two years and 6 years away from being used routinely in North America at this time, I hope that my dad is able to take care of himself until then. 

Andy, I hope that these treatments are able to help your brother too.  My dad's sister had this and now my dad developed it, I guess there is a strong genetic component to this disease and prevention with antioxidants is key. 

Thanks again everyone 

Sharmin

Sharmin my dear friend, i will be praying for him and for you. Sometimes life brings a lot of hardships at the same time, but i am sure that with faith everything will be much better. You and your family are in my prayers

manal

Manal,

Thank you for your prayers.  To be honest I haven't slept in 3 days, I can't get it out of my mind.  I feel like I need sleeping pills to stop thinking about it.   My dad appreciates the beauty of seeing things so much, how can he live without seeing the faces of his grandchildren?  I am franticly trying to find ways to prevent this disease from taking his eyesight.  Thank you again friends for your prayers,

Sharmin

Oh my dear friend, i can understand your feelings very well and my heart goes for you. Please keep updating us about his case. 

manal

Sharmin,
i m really sorry to hear this all ... I hope and pray that the medicines will resolve this ...

Best REgards
Umair

Thank you Manal and Umair 

Sharmin

Hello,

On the Iron Disorder List we to talk about it now. It was said that there is possible a link between hh(hemachromatose) and age related md (amd). Is that the type your father has?
At the moment I'm only a silent reader since I'm in very bad health and very weak. I'll ask my questions during the weekend. I hope my tx at wed will give me the boost I need to fight those side effects. Let me know of you have any questions and I will ask them there.
Due tx's we got secundiairy hh, but in some diseases (carriers) you see that people also have primairy hh. For example my father is a carrier; a little low hgb and iron overload +1000 when it was detected. No hh gene was found though. 
Just an idea. Iron panel tests are cheap to do - so that can't be the reason to do it not.

Take care *hugs*

Dore
p.s. How was the kiddo's first day at school? Or do I confuse you with someone else?