early ARMD

[ethel661]

My husband was just diagnosed with early ARMD.  Is there any way to predict how fast it will progress?  Is there any need to do the Amsler testing at this point?  The eye doctor did not suggest it. The eye doctor suggested:  I Caps, and a follow up visit in a year and a half.  Thank you.


This discussion is related to ARMD.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Most important with fish oil: get the enteric coated. take one with evening meal for a week, add second with breakfast next week, then third week take two with evening and one in am or 3/day.

If still get "fishy" aftertaste freeze them and take frozen. Fish oil not only helps heart and mac degen but helps dry eyes and perhaps slow cataracts.


JCH MD

[dukey]

Good advice here. Make sure to add the fish oil. This is key as omega fatty acids have a very important role in the retina. Dr Hagan, what is the thinking between gardually building up the fish oil dose? I went from 0 to 3 per day immeditaely!!!! (ooops!). I'm still alive though so hopefully no damage done.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes there is a great deal he can do:  good diet, fruits, veggies, fiber, fish, berries, nuts, cut down fats, cut down high calories carbos, eat lot of lutein rich food (green leafy vegetables), DON'T SMOKE, protect the eye from sunlight (hat, sunglasses), do a daily amsler grid, use the search feature to read more about ARMD, read the section on ARMD on e medicine, understand the difference between "dry" (90%) and "wet"  know that dry can turn into wet in an instant,  take 3 fish oil tables (enteric coated, start with one per day for a week then add one each week)  take a multivitamen and 2 Preservision with lutein pills (over the counter) every day. See an Eye MD ophthalmologist each 6-12 months.

ARMD is a hereditary disease. All blood relatives need to be checked outl.

JCH MD