In this August addition of the Healthy Eyes Report, Dr. Buensuceso talks about current cutting-edge treatments in Macular Degeneration. For those with AMD you will learn about various treatment regimens showing new promise in the fight against vision loss with Wet AMD.
We also share the reasons why eating Papaya, which is plentiful in antioxidants can be helpful for Macular Degeneration. Also check our two great Papaya recipes – Lime and Coconut Overnight Oatmeal which is both flavorful and super-easy to prepare, and Seared Scallops with Spicy Papaya Sauce – delicious with an added spicy kick and low in calories!
We hope you continue to enjoy another issue of the Healthy Eyes Report!
Sincerely,
Volker Gallichio
Vice-President, MedOp Health
In This Issue
- FROM THE DOCTOR: How Cutting-Edge Treatments in AMD Will Affect You
- NUTRITION: Why Papaya is Great for Macular Degeneration
How Cutting-Edge Treatments in AMD Will Affect You
Happy August! In this month’s e-newsletter, we’re talking about the current and cutting-edge treatments in Macular Degeneration. For those of you who have AMD and are curious to know what options are available to you or you know of someone who has it and would like to help him/her, this article is for you.
First, the treatments discussed are meant for Wet AMD. There is no treatment regimen for Dry AMD since it doesn’t represent a severe loss of vision like Wet AMD.
Current Treatment
Let’s start with the current treatment which involves sticking needles in the eye on a monthly basis to slow down the progression of Wet AMD. You see, new blood vessels develop and leak fluid and blood into the macula causing damage. The monthly injections work to inhibit the growth of new blood vessels which lessens the damage being done to the macula. Unfortunately, it has limited effectiveness, it’s costly and inconvenient for many senior citizens who suffer from this condition.
One of the potential answers to this problem is an experimental drug known as AXT107. The benefit of injections of AXT107 is that it has a longer effect then the current treatment regimen and the patient can go for several months between injections instead of 4 to 6 weeks.
Stem Cells/Gene Therapy
Another possible solution to treat Wet AMD is the use of special stem cells which are implanted in the back of the eye (Retina). A report published in Nature Biotech documented men and women in their 60’s to 80’s achieving good vision twelve months after the procedure with significant improvement and no side effects.
Gene Therapy is another avenue that could help people who suffer from Wet AMD. A one-time injection of RGX-314 is a therapeutic protein that is used with advanced stages of AMD. This gene therapy product works by delivering a ‘healthy’ gene into the retina which in turn, produces its own beneficial protein. This will reduce the number of shots required to treat advanced stages of AMD.
Finding a Cure?
As you can see, there are a lot of ways medical technology is doing research into how to beat this devastating eye disease. It’s very encouraging and I’m hopeful that they will find a cure someday. But, in the meantime, it’s important to keep up with your doctor’s treatment plan if you have AMD and also to keep taking your nutritional supplements like Maxivision’s line of supplements specifically to help with AMD.
In next month’s e-newsletter we will be talking about how to drastically reduce night glare by using Macular supplements. If you’ve been bothered by glare when you’re driving at night, look out for the next e-newsletter to find out to solve this annoying and potentially dangerous problem.
Why Papaya is Great for Macular Degeneration
Papaya is an orange colored fruit native to Mexico but also grows naturally in Florida and the Caribbean. It is rich in antioxidants nutrients such as carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamin C and Vitamin B.
More importantly, Papayas contain Zeaxanthin which blocks harmful Blue Light and Ultraviolet light which helps ward off Macular Degeneration.
Maxivision brand of supplements contains 2x the amount of Zeaxanthin recommends by the ARED2 study.
Papayas can be added to salads, smoothies, and other dishes so you can add it to your favorite foods in a variety of ways.
