[ConservativeMind]

After two years, 53% of patients receiving light therapy had significant improvement in their vision as measured by an eye chart. The light therapy patients also had a 73% reduction in their progression toward geographic atrophy, the last stage of AMD. These are great results.

This therapy is available today for diabetic retinopathy and could be used by your doctor, before final FDA approval in December.

[ConservativeMind]

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[tired&retired]

Drusen are small yellow deposits of fatty proteins (lipids) that accumulate under the retina.

Researchers analysed data from 30,953 individuals aged 50 years or older who participated in two European studies: European Eye Epidemiology (E3) Consortium and the Rotterdam study. The research showed that both HDL cholesterol and triglycerides showed the strongest association with drusen (yellow spots) and early AMD.

In the Blue Mountains Eye Study, statins decreased the incidence of soft drusen but not early AMD.

Research conducted by the National Eye Institute found a nutritional supplement formulation that may help stave off the advanced stages of AMD. The formulation, known as AREDS2, contains vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, and copper.

My own theory is that the blood flow is decreased by the drusen causing hypoxia in the eye. AMD runs in my family, so when a patient came to me with it about ten years ago, I researched it extensively.

The decrease is blood flow causes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to cause angiogenisis which in turn causes wet AMD. Injections in the eye of an anti VEGF such as the drug Avastin are used to decrease angiogenesis.

Often people have wet AMD in one eye and dry AMD in the other.

I found in my client that she had a blood clotting disorder caused by a blood protein cofactor. (I noticed the bruises on her legs were not healing.) There are many cofactor disorders such as von Willebrand disease or Factor V Leiden, which can also influence anemia.

B12 deficiencies and/iron can trigger these blood cofactors which influence in varying ways sometimes causing clots while at the same time causing hemmorages or anemia.

The body chemistry is very complex.

[tired&retired]

The retina uses more oxygen at night, and diseases that cause nocturnal hypoxia, such as obstructive sleep apnoea, may contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration.

[sauropod]

bkmk

[tired&retired]

Four studies found that AMD was associated with increased rates of sleep apnea and poorer reported sleep quality, while five studies showed that patients with sleep apnea or insomnia were at higher risk of developing AMD.

Knowing that fasting reduced hypoxia due to the decrease of CO2 production in the mitochondria during the Krebs Cycle production of ATP, I wondered if fasting decreased AMD by reducing hypoxia in the eyes.

[metmom]

I’ve heard a lot of great things about red light therapy.

Any idea what wavelengths were used?

IR covers a broad range.

[Rowdyone]

Thank you so much for posting this! My dear wife of 54 years suffers from AMD and would be a good candidate for this procedure. Coincidentally she has an appointment with her specialist in December and we will certainly inquire about this procedure. Have you heard if there are side effects? The injections that are available to her now are too risky.

[China Clipper]

I use a handheld red light flashlight at 760nm. I treat for 3 minutes a week on Monday mornings. 3 minutes each eye, yes I close my eyes when I’m treating that eye. I just hold it about 6 inches away from my closed eye, once eye at a time

I must admit it does make a difference. My vision is better.