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Vitamins for eyes--dry macular degeneration

Posted , 6 users are following.

bagladyNYC
bagladyNYC

I was given two samples of vitamins that MAY keep my vision from deterioating due to dry mac, which I've just learned continues even though one has gone "wet."

Dosage included 400 units of vitamin E. I told my ophthalmologist that the almond milk (2 cups) I drink every day already has that amount of Vitamin E. I wish they would stop adding vitamins to the food we buy. Several articles I have read state that too much Vitamine E can cause very serious side effects including loss of vision ????? stroke and death. Just to name a few. I am also very careful about my diet. He admitted he didn't even know what the daily requirement was for Vitamin E. ?? Then appeared to get in a huff. I've been burned by a doctor giving me too much Vitamin D. I had a kidney stone and she didn't even recognize the symptoms.

Then he started in on me just taking lutein. Lutein is easily found in green leafy vegetables such as, kale, spinach, collards and yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables. In my opinion, there is no need to take this in a pill if you eat these every day. "They" don't even know the daily requirement of lutein.

Pharmacuetical manufacturers have already had to remove beta carotenes from these vitamins because they caused lung cancer in patients who were FORMER smokers. Now I read that lutein and zeaxanthin are related to Vitamin A and beta carotenes. Should I make my doctor happy or do what I know is best for me?

 

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • sue21470
    sue21470 bagladyNYC

    Posted

    everything in moderation I suppose. +
    • bagladyNYC
      bagladyNYC sue21470

      Posted

      I read a lot from different sources, but pay attention to what the Mayo Clinic says and I am bothered at the amount of zinc that is in the capsules I bought for dry mac. Each capsule contains 55 mg. The Mayo Clinic says 40 mg. Side effects are not good. Thyroid problems, cancer and a lot more. I had diarrhea that could not be ignored. I've already had cancer and don't need that anymore, either.

      I think you need to know what the daily requirements are and do read the side effects. You could be that one in a thousand,

  • sue21470
    sue21470 bagladyNYC

    Posted

    Trust your Doctor and discuss your thoughts too
    • bagladyNYC
      bagladyNYC sue21470

      Posted

      I don't trust every doctor. I've been lied to before.

      Now I am seeing vitamins for eyes that are zinc free.

       

  • Outhwaite
    Outhwaite bagladyNYC

    Posted

    Hi. I was very interested in your post, as I have just been diagnosed with Dry Mac and was given nothing by Moorfields. I already had optical nerve damage after a stroke which impaired my sight and made specticals useless. As they couldn't help, only by referring me to the department that deals with magnifying glasses and reading aids such as a white bright daylight reading lamp, I was given a yearly appointment after all the tests, but phoned for an immediate appointment when I noticed the blurred central vision. All I was given was leaflets regarding what is considered healthy for the eyes, such as the foods you mentioned above. Think I might try the almond milk so thanks for that tip, as my diet leaves a lot to be desired, as I have other health problems such as COPD, bad IBS am 71 and also had 2 strokes and 2 heart attacks, leaving me rather incapacitated, I'm on a large amount of medication for my complaints and they don't mix with each other very well, yet without the COPD meds I would probably be dead. I'm reading more and more about the Pharmacutical companies pushing their drugs and doctors who don't fully understand a lot, especially with IBS and I quite often wonder if when you get to my age they just fob you off with a stack load of meds just to keep you "happy" knowing there isn't really much they can do to sort you out so "toddle off and send in someone younger who we might have a chance to help". I have had this feeling after various hospital and GP appointments for all the various complaints. Now this AMD is escalating rather fast over the past few months and I am really struggling trying to be on the computer and reading or seeing the TV clearly...all my favourite pastimes.

    Anyhow, thanks for the information in your post, I found it most interesting.

    Regards, Val.

    • sue54089
      sue54089 Outhwaite

      Posted

      I have no advice for you Outhwaite, but I have compassion.  I care for my mother who has many of the ailments you describe.  My mother has books on tape now, as she can't really read anymore.  She gets it free from the association for the blind.  But, I live in the US.  I'm sure the UK has similar associations.  It is a free service here.  My mom has a-fib and IBS too.  It's all enough to keep things very uncomfortable some days.  Mom's AMD started when she was 50 yrs. old, and she's 88 now.  Her eyesight has decreased slowly over the years, and has held steady now for about 3 yrs.  So perhaps your eye sight will level off at some point.  Keep eating your greens is what mom is told by the doctor.  And she does, but I sometimes wonder if all the veggies don't contribute to her IBS symptoms.  She can still see the TV - but it's one of those big screen TV's.  Best of luck to you  
  • bagladyNYC
    bagladyNYC

    Posted

    The retinal specialist told me my vision had improved!!! Meaning, I could read the eye chart better. LOL. This morning, I'm trying to read the storm warnings as they go across my TV screen. One or two problems. Someone has written the kind of storm in yellow and blue. Those two colors fade out for people with macular degeneration. Can't read.

    What I did was to Google the popular vitamins for mac--Ocuvite is one. Found out what vitamins were in there and then Googled each vitamin to find out which foods had the most. These foods have other things in them that are good for your body, so I think paying attention to your diet trumps buying vitamins. They put way too much Vitamin E in them anyway and that is dangerous.

    Good luck.

  • Outhwaite
    Outhwaite bagladyNYC

    Posted

    I must agree with you. A lot of people do not realise the damage they can do by taking vitamin supplements over the counter, especially when on official drugs from NHS for whatever complaints they have. Moorfields Eye Hospital told me my eyes were much the same as previous examinations and they have stacks of testing machines, yet I KNOW my sight is rapidly declining, as at first 2 yrs agoI was told I had no AMD and now they are saying I have and I have the classic blurring in the central vision which is getting worse by the week, and also a circle of bright twinkling tiny lights which gets worse as the day goes on and my eyes get tired. I have about 3 hours of computer/television/reading etc. and that's my lot for the day!  Does anyone else get these twinkling lights? I told the Consultant, but he made no comment and made me feel like a bit of an idiot! I am going to start making smoothies of all the green veg (i.e.broccoli, kale and spinach) I can't stand and see if I can drink it, mixed with some veg I do like..!!.

    Would appreciate it if anyone else could let me know whether they see a  circle of twinkling lights (even when my eyes are shut) then I might know if it's AMD or further damage from a TIA or something else.

    Regards, Val

    • bagladyNYC
      bagladyNYC Outhwaite

      Posted

      I think those are called visual hallucinations. I have them as well. 

      You should be having scans done on both eyes. None of my doctors listened to me, either, until a scan showed the problem. I received a shot in my left eye that day. I had been seeing wavy lines for months.

      First I was told the dry mac had turned wet and that vitamins no longer did any good for that eye. The only treatment was a shot to prevent more vision loss. A few months later, a tech told me that dry eye continued after wet eye began!!! I double checked this with the retinal specialist and he agreed!!! She said I would continue to see distortions.

      I have a blind spot in that eye, too. I tried to tell the optomitrist and the ophthomalogist things I was seeing and the optomotrist suggested it was my blood sugar. I almost walked out. I refuse to see her anymore.

      I'm left with the feeling no one really knows very much about macular degeneration and that doctors rely completely on these tests.

    • Outhwaite
      Outhwaite bagladyNYC

      Posted

      I know exactly how you feel!. At Moorfields in London you keep seeing different "Consultants" as it is a teaching hospital. I got this woman who was Eastern European and struggling with English and ended up talking complete rubbish, in one breath my eyes were damaged by the stroke and I had NO AMD, then at the end of the consultation told me that I had the beginnings of it, but no treatment available. According to my son, N.I.C,E have said no more injections in the eyes to try to improve wet AMD and according to Moorfields it doesn't help with dry MD and it's too expensive for the NHS, so now no treatment is given exceot diet advice and eye drops to lubricate dry eyes and a gel for night time, but it is hard to see anything in focus once taken and if you have to get up in the night your vision is terribly blurred and also first thing in the morning, so gave the gel one a miss and use the 2 x a day one just so my eyes don't feel so gritty. I had scans after my stroke, but have been offered zilch for this latest fiasco!  According to son, the "blue light" from a computer screen is quite damaging to the eyes, but it's my main enjoyment, so I'll keep on with it. I have my computer linked to a 40 inch TV as I can't see well enough on a monitor, even with the trick of making the internet text larger by CTRL key and pushing wheel mouse forward.

      Have just been googling how to change the background colour to your own choice, as my eyes are extremely light sensitive, but it's complicated so will see if son can do it. Sometimes even the cursor vanishes and I'm getting very agitated with it all. especially since Moorfields said my eyesight hadn't changed much....theyshould try using it themselves and they would then realise that it has gone downhill very rapidly and I feer blindness something terrifying.!!!!

    • bagladyNYC
      bagladyNYC Outhwaite

      Posted

      You just made my morning. Nothing like a good belly laugh!

      My eyes are very light sensitive, too. I never go outside without wearing dark glasses now. I have several magnifying glasses with lights. I have found the lights are as helpful as the magnifying glass.

      I also stay at the computer a LOT. Have much trouble when print is in blue or yellow. It fades into the background.

      You will not lose your periferal vision--only the central, but that's not much fun. I do not drive. By choice. A pedestrian could easily be in that blind spot that was there when I only had dry mac. Not driving is the most difficult part of this disorder. Hate being dependent. Looking into government run transportation services for those over 65. It's not free, but it's something.

       

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