Treating Macular Degeneration with Chinese Medicine

Abstract

Degeneration (ARMD-Aged Related Macular Degeneration) is the slow deterioration of the cells in the macula, a tiny yellowish area near the center of the retina. The macula functions to give us clear central vision and fine detailed images. The deterioration of the macula affects an individual's central vision -the ability to read, write and drive and recognizing faces -among other visual abnormalities. There are two types of macular degeneration, wet and dry. Ninety percent of people with macular degeneration have the dry-type in which small, yellow spots called Drusen form underneath the macula. Drusen are believed to be metabolic waste products that accumulate and cause cellular damage. It has been suggested that Drusen slowly breaks down the cells of the macula, causing distorted vision.Dry macular degeneration can progress into the second, more severe type, called wet-type macular degeneration. The cause of this progression is unknown to conventional medicine. In wettype ARMD, new, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow toward the macula, causing rapid and severe vision loss. These weak blood vessels can rupture and bleed, thus "wet-type" ARMD. Both wet and dry ARMD are diagnosed by an ophthalmologist and there is currently no safe and effective conventional treatment.Individual risk factors for macular degeneration have been identified as contributing factors to the development and progression of ARMD. These include: female gender, smoking (increase risk by 200-300%), diabetics, high blood pressure (uncontrolled) and family history of macular degeneration.