Macular degeneration age-related or AMD

What is age-related macular degeneration or AMD?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that causes blurred or reduced central vision in one or both eyes. It results from damage to the back of the eye in an area called the macula. The macula consists of millions of light-sensitive cells that provide clear and central vision (when looking straight ahead) and are responsible for detailed vision. There are two forms of AMD depending on how the macula is damaged: “dry AMD” (also called “atrophic AMD”) and “wet AMD” (also called “neovascular AMD”). Dry AMD is the most common form. In dry AMD, waste materials accumulate under the retina with gradual thinning of the 10 layers of the macula as old cells die, not being replaced by the body. Damage to the macula worsens slowly, and central vision is gradually lost. Wet AMD is less common but can lead to much faster vision loss, sometimes within a few days. Wet AMD occurs when new abnormal blood vessels develop under the macula, where they don’t normally grow. The event triggering neovascularization (growth of
new blood vessels) is the drastic reduction in partial pressure of oxygen in the macula. This often occurs in patients already affected by dry AMD, as the body develops new blood vessels to try to resolve the issue. The new abnormal blood vessels can cause swelling and bleeding under the macula, leading to scarring and subsequent vision loss.

What are the risk factors for AMD?
It is not known what causes AMD to develop; however, some elements, called “risk factors,” may increase a person’s chances of developing AMD. Risk factors do not necessarily lead to AMD, but they may increase the risk that it will develop sooner or later. Some of the main risk factors include:

  • Age: People over 60 are more likely to be diagnosed with AMD.
  • Smoking: Smokers have twice the chance of developing AMD compared to non-smokers.
  • Race: AMD is more common in Caucasians than in other races.
  • Genetics: People with a close relative with AMD are at higher risk of developing this condition.

What are the symptoms of AMD?
The main symptom of both types of AMD is a blurry area in the centre of the field of vision. People may live for a long time with dry AMD without symptoms because they may only appear when AMD is very severe. AMD does not affect vision around the centre of the eye (known as ‘peripheral vision’). However, the blurry area in the centre of the patient’s field of vision may expand, affecting
daily activities such as seeing faces, reading, and driving. Other symptoms associated with AMD include:

  • Gaps or dark spots in the patient’s vision.
  • Distortion of shapes and colours.
  • Faded colors.
  • Feeling of glare and discomfort in bright light and difficulty adapting when moving from dark
    to bright places.
  • Words disappearing while reading.

USAGE:
CAPSULE O3ZONE SIZE 00
TAKE 2 CAPSULES IN THE MORNING AND 2 CAPSULES
IN THE EVENING (TOTAL OF 4 CAPSULES PER DAY).

ADMINISTRATION:
GASTRO-RESISTANT CAPSULES FOR SYSTEMIC ORAL USE.
TREATMENT DURATION:
5-8 MONTHS.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
PREGNANT WOMEN;
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BLEEDING;
SURGICAL PROCEDURES (DISCONTINUE TREATMENT 3 DAYS BEFORE AND RESUME 7-10 DAYS AFTER);
HYPERTHYROIDISM;
G6PD DEFICIENCY (FAVISM).
REATMENT OBJECTIVE:
THE INTEGRATED TREATMENT AIMS TO SLOW DOWN OR STABILIZE THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE.
RECOMMENDED AS AN INTEGRATED THERAPY FOR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment and severe vision loss. In industrialized countries, AMD is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss in people over 65 years old [1]. AMD has widespread effects on quality of life. Studies show that AMD patients report higher stress, lower personal satisfaction, decreased activity levels, and a
higher incidence of depressive syndromes compared to similarly aged individuals without AMD [2]. Some studies have also reported that the quality of life of AMD patients is similar or even lower than that of patients with other serious chronic illnesses [3]. AMD has also been associated with an increased risk of functional disability in the elderly [4], as well as a direct relationship between AMD and an increased risk of falls and other injuries [5]. Equally significant is AMD’s association with an increased risk of cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease [6]. AMD causes loss of central visual acuity, leading to severe and permanent visual disability
and sometimes blindness, impacting the patient’s quality of life and functional independence.


Bibliography:
[1] Bourne RRA, Jonas JB, Flaxman SR, et al. Prevalence and causes of vision loss in high-income countries and in Eastern and Central Europe: 1990-2010. Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;98:629–638
[2] Brody BL, Gamst AC, Williams RA, et al. Depression, visual acuity, comorbidity, and disability associated with age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology 2001; 108: 1893–901
[3] Mitchell J, Bradley C. Quality of life in age-related macular degeneration: a review of the literature. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2006; 4: 97
[4] Gopinath B, Liew G, Burlutsky G, Mitchell P. Age-related macular degeneration and 5-year incidence of impaired activities of daily living. Maturitas 2014; 77: 263-66
[5] Wood JM, Lacherez P, Black AA, Cole MH, Boon MY, Kerr GK. Risk of falls, injurious falls, and other injuries resulting from visual impairment among older adults with age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011; 52: 5088-92
[6] Woo SJ, Park KH, Ahn J, et al. Cognitive impairment in age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy. Ophthalmology 2012; 119: 2094-101