Approximately 85% to 90% of the cases of macular degeneration are the dry (atrophic) type. Dry age-related macular degeneration does not involve any leakage of blood or serum. Loss of vision may still occur. Patients with this dry form may have good central vision (20/40 or better) but substantial functional limitations, including fluctuating vision, difficulty reading because of their limited area of central vision, limited vision at night or under conditions of reduced illumination.
In the dry type of macular degeneration, the deterioration of the retina is associated with the formation of small yellow deposits, known as drusen, under the macula. This phenomenon leads to a thinning and drying out of the macula, causing the macula to lose its function. The amount of central vision loss is directly related to the location and amount of retinal thinning caused by the drusen.
The early stage of dry age-related macular degeneration is associated with minimal visual impairment and is characterized by large drusen and pigmentary abnormalities in the macula. Drusen are accumulations of acellular, amorphous debris subjacent to the basement membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium. Nearly all people over the age of 50 years have at least one small druse in one or both eyes. Only eyes with large drusen are at risk for late age-related macular degeneration.
This form of macular degeneration is much more common than the “wet” type of macular degeneration, and it tends to progress more slowly than the “wet” type. However, a certain percentage of the “dry” type of macular degeneration turns to “wet” with the passage of time. There is no known cure for the “dry” type of macular degeneration.
Approximately 10-15% of the cases of macular degeneration are the “wet” (exudative) type.
In the “wet” type of macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels (known as choroidal neovascularization or CNV) grow under the retina and macula. These new blood vessels may then bleed and leak fluid, causing the macula to bulge or lift up from its normally flat position, thus distorting or destroying central vision. Under these circumstances, vision loss may be rapid and severe.
With the “wet” type, patients may see a dark spot (or spots) in the center of their vision due to blood or fluid under the macula. Straight lines may look wavy because the macula is no longer smooth. Side or “peripheral” vision is rarely affected. However, some patients do not notice any such changes, despite the onset of neovascularization . Therefore, periodic eye examinations are still very important for patients at high risk.
There are two forms of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) that have been identified, “classic” and “occult.” The classic form is well-defined and usually results in vision that is between 20/250 and 20/400, but it may be worse than 20/800. For eyes with the occult form, the average visual acuity is somewhat better, between 20/80 and 20/200. Occult lesions are not well-delineated and they have less leakage.
Once CNV has developed in one eye, whether there is a visual loss or not, the other eye is at relatively high risk for the same change. When all four risk factors—more than five drusen, large drusen, pigmental clumping, and systemic hypertension—are present, the five-year risk of CNV in the second eye is 87%, whereas if none of these risk factors are present, the risk is 7%.
In addition, CNV may progress rapidly, and any sudden change in central vision therefore requires a prompt examination after dilation of the eyes. The purpose of this exam is to find out whether the sudden loss of vision is due to leakage of blood vessels and which treatment may be appropriate.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD) is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina’s central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.
There are two basic types of Macular Degeneration: “dry” and “wet.” Approximately 85% to 90% of the cases of Macular Degeneration are the “dry” (atrophic) type, while 10-15% are the “wet” (exudative) type.
Your ophthalmologist will perform a complete examination to diagnose AMD. One of the most common early signs of AMD is the presence of drusen. Your doctor can see these during a routine eye exam. Often, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) picture will be taken. OCT shows how thick the retina is and can identify accumulated fluid from abnormal blood vessels. People with macular degeneration can check their own vision with a simple test called the Amsler grid. The Amsler grid is a pattern of straight lines that make perfect squares. The patient looks at a large dot in the middle of the grid and notices any areas where the lines look blurry, wavy or broken. If the grid lines seem to be more distorted than before, it might be a sign that the macular degeneration is getting worse and needs evaluation. Early detection of AMD is very important because treatment can delay or reduce the severity of the disease.
Clinical studies have shown Acupuncture is effective in a wide range of disorders including Eye Diseases, Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto, Cushing’s Syndrome, Osteoporosis, Thyroiditis, PCOS / Addison’s Disease and Menopause.
Increases Ocular Circulation.
Reduces Inflammation and Increases Circulation.
Non-Surgical and Opioid-Free treatment.
No side effects and safe.
Releases Endorphins to combat pain.
Ayurveda offers one of the most effective medicines for digestive issues and helps to correct root cause of your condition.
Complete holistic healing system in existence more than 3000 years.
Based on the concept of root-cause diagnosis and management.
Focuses equally on prevention and cure to improve quality of life.
Helps identify and recommends foods for your body type and condition.
Herbal medicine has a history of at least several thousand years and uses mostly plants to treat diseases and promote health.
Can successfully treat many chronic and complex conditions.
Clinically and scientifically proven to treat a wide range of complex eye conditions.
Safe and has relatively less side effects.
Helps boost your immune system naturally.
Shown to reduce stress and relieve anxiety.
Improves respiratory and cardiovascular function.
Therapeutic Yoga or Yoga Therapy involves employing a variety of yoga practices to help improve a health.It also adapts the practice of Yoga to the needs of people with specific health condition.
Improves strength, balance and flexibility.
Helps with chronic pain relief.
Improves circulation and reduces blood pressure.
Reduces stress and improves sleep.
Improves respiratory and cardiovascular function.
The number one risk factor is age. One-third of adults over 75 are affected by AMD.
Smoking increases a person’s chances of developing AMD by two to five fold. Because the retina has a high rate of oxygen consumption, anything that affects oxygen delivery to the retina may affect vision. Smoking causes oxidative damage, which may contribute to the development and progression of this disease.
A person is more likely to develop AMD if someone in his or her immediate family has had it.
Females are more likely to develop AMD than males. This factor may be because females live longer than males, and thus have more time to develop the disease.
Although the evidence is not conclusive, some studies suggest an association between AMD and cumulative eye damage from ultraviolet (UV) and other light. This light may damage the retina and increase the risk of AMD.
People with diets that are elevated in fat, cholesterol and high glycemic index foods, and low in antioxidants and green leafy vegetables may be more likely to develop AMD. High-glycemic index foods, such as white rice, bread and pasta raise blood sugar rapidly, whereas low-glycemic foods, such as whole grain breads or oatmeal can lower the risk of AMD by stabilizing blood sugar levels.
A person with a BMI (body mass index, a measure of body fat) of greater than 30 is 2.5 times more likely to develop the disease than a person with a lower BMI.
High blood pressure, like smoking, leads to a constriction (narrowing) of the blood vessels that nourish the retina, restricting oxygen flow.
People with light-colored eyes are more likely to develop the dry type of AMD. This factor may be because light-pigmented eyes offer less protection from damaging UV light.
In dry AMD, the retina does not receive adequate oxygen, leading to the death of cells in the macula. Exercise improves cardiovascular health and might help prevent AMD.
If a person has AMD in one eye, he or she is more likely to develop it in the other eye.
The below factors can also contribute to your Glaucoma progression.
Neuroprotection therapy helps protect neurons in your eye from injury such as from eye pressure elevations. Neurotrophins helps to provide the required neuroprotective therapy which prevents from death of the ganglion cells in your eyes.
Vascular dysregulation means that blood flow is not properly flowing. This causes reduced and unstable oxygen supply to the tissues in the eyes. This in turn causes a cacade of events causing glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
Oxidative stress damage is an important factor in development of glaucoma, which triggers trabecular meshwork degeneration, which then leads to intraocular hypertension. Different studies provide cumulating evidence, which supports the association of oxidative stress with different aspects of the neurodegenerative process happening in glaucoma.
Glaucoma is associated with toxic inflammatory factors leading to cell death and disease progression. Trabecular meshwork dysfunction is likely mediated by oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Ocular surface inflammation may compromise the cornea, conjunctiva and the trabecular meshwork.
Excitotoxicity is increased levels of glutamate and is seen in Glaucoma patients which cause
retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. If the toxic effects of glutamate aren't blocked, RGC loss can continue, leading to further visual impairment.
Netra Restoration Therapy provides the following benefits for patients with Glaucoma.
The level of loss of nerve fiber layer and optic nerve atrophy will determine the level of the improvement seen.
Most patients start to see subjective improvements in their vision within just 7 days of starting the NRT treatment.
NRT treatment can stop Glaucoma vision loss progression or considerably reduced to preserve the remaining vision.
NRT treatment improves visual field by reinstating dormant and sub-optimally functioning retinal cells. Without treatment these cells would eventually neurodegenerate and be lost forever.
With NRT treatment most glaucoma patients have shown improvement in their visual acuity by a minimum of 1 to 2 lines in distant and near vision.
Most glaucoma patients treated with NRT treatment have shown marked improvement in their color contrast.
Most glaucoma patients treated with NRT treatment have experienced having brighter vision, a reduction in glare, and blurry/cloudy vision.