New treatments and ongoing research hold promise for people losing their eyesight to macular degeneration. The public is invited to learn more at two upcoming seminars this Sunday and Monday.
Approximately 13 million Americans, mostly over the age of 50, suffer from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are two kinds of AMD--dry which accounts for about 90 percent of cases—and, wet, which makes up ten percent and is the more severe form.
An effective treatment for wet macular degeneration was recently developed. Dr. Ashish Sharma with Retinal Consultants of Southwest Florida said it’s done by injection into the macular--the effected portion of the eye.
“They have not only found a way with these injections to stabilize the macular degeneration but we’ve seen a majority of patients with improvement in their vision as well,” she said.
Sharma said treatment for the more common dry macular degeneration is based on diet and dietary supplements
“Eating green leafy vegetables, like spinach or kale can be very beneficial that supplies a lot of the vitamins also omega 3 fatty acids or fish oils that are commonly found in fish such as salmon is also commonly recommended,” he said.
Physicians from Retinal Consultants are hosting the seminars along with researchers from Schepens Eye Research Institute/Massachusetts Eye And Ear – affiliated with Harvard Medical School. They are in the second phase of a study using stem cell injections into the eye to treat age-related macular degeneration.
The free seminars are Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Naples Hilton and Monday from 9 a.m. to noon at Harborside Event Center in Ft. Myers.
