MACULAR DEGENERATION or AMD

by Dr. Lawrence Wilson

© January 2011, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc.

                 

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.  It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

 

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a very common disease of aging in which the central part of the retina, sometimes called the macula, begins to malfunction.  Two hundred thousand people are diagnosed with AMD each year in America alone. 

Doctors classify macular degeneration as wet or dry.  Most cases are the so-called wet kind.

 

SYMPTOMS

 

AMD causes a type of blindness or visual distortion in which a person experiences varying degrees of double vision and other problems that are extremely annoying, even if it does not cause total blindness.

Other AMD symptoms include blurriness, wavy lines, or a blind spot.  You may also notice visual distortions such as:

 

¥ Straight lines or faces appearing wavy

¥ Doorways seeming crooked

¥ Objects appearing smaller or farther away

 

HAIR ANALYSIS INDICATORS

 

                  A recent observation is that people with macular degeneration have a buildup of cadmium in the retina of the eyes.  Cadmium is a zinc antagonist, and zinc in large quantity is required for the health of the retina, and especially the central part of the retina or the macula.  I am not sure if all cases of macular degeneration are related to cadmium toxicity, but I have observed this in several cases.  Many people with AMD enjoy fish and shellfish, and this may be the source of their cadmium.  To read more, click on Cadmium Toxicity.

                  Another observation is that some people with AMD are mixed or fast oxidizers.  This also may have to do with cadmium toxicity, although it could be caused by other factors as well.

 

NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS

 

                  Some research supports that idea that taking anti-oxidants such as lutein and zeozanthein may help slow the progress of dry macular degeneration, although the research is mixed.  The same is true of research on the importance of taking extra omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D.  However, these substances do not seem to have a powerful effect on this particular condition.  Some researchers feel that zinc or other supplements may also be helpful, although once again the results of zinc therapy are mixed.

                  From my understanding, the reason that simple nutritional supplements are not sufficient to have a strong impact on AMD is that they are not sufficient to remove much cadmium, though they can help.  In order to remove cadmium, a person must go on a complete nutritional balancing program that employs at least a dozen or more methods to remove cadmium.  These are discussed in detail in an article on this site entitled Toxic Metals. 

 

CORRECTION OF AMD

 

If a toxic metal such as cadmium is involved in AMD, then it is possible that one can remove the cadmium and the condition will at least not progress, and in some cases it definitely reverses.  This has occurred in a number of cases I have been involved with.  In most cases, a complete nutritional balancing program is required.

Removing cadmium is not a fast process in some cases.  It might take a year or more on a nutritional balancing program to remove cadmium.  Therefore, patience is needed.

 

 

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