Posted on 09/18/2023 9:11:06 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Research led by Nicolas Bazan, MD, Ph.D. suggests that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) decreases an essential fatty acid, preventing the formation of a class of protective molecules and reducing repair potential. The discovery may also open new therapeutic avenues for AMD.
The study shows that AMD decreases peripheral retinal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 22:6 in rod photoreceptor cells, limiting the elongation of fatty acids to form very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs). VLC-PUFAs are precursors of elovanoids, bioactive chemical messengers made from omega-3 very- long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Elovanoids, discovered by the Bazan lab, have been shown to restore the structure and integrity of damaged photoreceptor cells by repairing, remodeling and regenerating healthy cells. The loss of the neuroprotective precursors of elovanoids in the retina periphery from AMD facilitates uncompensated stress and cell loss.
"Biosynthetic fatty acid pathway insufficiencies may be a fundamental factor in the onset and progression of macular degenerative diseases leading to blindness," notes Dr. Bazan.
"In AMD, the female retina loses peripheral rod VLC-PUFAs to about 33% less than in males, limiting elovanoid formation and its protective bioactivity," adds Bazan.
According to the Bright Focus Foundation, nearly 20 million US adults have some form of age-related macular degeneration. An estimated 18 million people aged 40 and older were living with early-stage macular degeneration in 2019, and 1.49 million had late-stage macular degeneration. Around 200 million people worldwide are thought to be living with AMD, a number expected to reach 288 million by 2040.
Age is a prominent risk factor for age-related macular degeneration. The risk of getting advanced age-related macular degeneration increases from 2% for those ages 50–59, to nearly 30% for those over the age of 75.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
That should all be fine.
Hopefully, there is another reason for your issue, but if your problem keeps getting worse, especially if you start having dim or white spots associated with the wavy lines... it is important for you not to wait 6 weeks to be seen. Even if you just have Central Serous Retinopathy as I do, this can still cause permanent damage.
The eye doctors at the Costco near us have imaging equipment that is superior to what most opthamalogist had access to just ten years ago. I am sure that others where glasses are purchased have similar equipment. They charge about $150 for an appointment where they take images of the inside of your eyes, and you can get in almost immediately. Even if you never get reimbursed for this it would likely be worth it to you for peace of mind if nothing else. And if you do have a problem which constitutes an emergency they will likely get you in to see someone quickly.
My wife paid for the imaging service and a tumor was found in her eye that was starting to cause problems. Because of the scan she was able to be seen immediately.
Also good. It is included in the astaxanthin I take.
It is cheaper and more effective if you get the elements individually, Lutein and astaxanthin being the main ones. If you get them as individual supps you will be taking more and it will be more effective. If it comes as a bottle in a box you are paying more than necessary.
Thanks...I got an appt for tomorrow
Wonderful! I hope that they will be helpful to you and give you peace of mind and refer you to someone who can help you quickly if that is what is needed. Don't let them upset you if they feel that your problem is serious. They gave my wife a bad scare implying that the tumor in her eye was likely malignant. When she got into see the specialist very quickly because of their dire speculation, it turned out to be benign and not a bad problem.
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