The Facts about Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) currently affects some 17 million people in the United States, with an additional 500,000 diagnosed each year. Of those diagnosed with AMD, 2 million are functionally blind, making it the most prevalent cause of vision loss in the elderly.

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Zeaxanthin Holds Promise in Battle Against AMD

The disease, which is characterized by the slow but steady loss of function and ability to see in the center field of vision in one or both eyes, slowly robs patients not only of their sight, but also of their quality of life. It's a gradual process that often has no noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Initial symptoms include blurriness or wavy lines in the center of the field of vision. Other signs to watch for are:

• Objects in the center field of vision appear dark, blurry or distorted
• Straight lines appear wavy
• Colors appear blurry
• Close-up vision is difficult
• Objects appear different depending on which eye is used

And while age is a leading risk factor for AMD, it's not a disease reserved for the elderly. Incidence of AMD increases dramatically after age 55, and continues to climb as we age. Other risk factors include:

• Poor diet
• Smoking
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• Gender
• Race
• Family history
• Light-colored eyes
• High blood pressure

There is no known cure for macular degeneration. Further, there are no generally accepted conventional treatments or therapies for the dry form. And while laser surgery can temporarily halt the progression of wet macular degeneration in about 10 percent of the cases, the results are often only temporary. Today, however, evidence strongly suggests that restoring or retaining healthy levels of zeaxanthin may slow the degenerative process that causes macular degeneration, and may even help prevent the onset of the disease.

-- Dennis L. Gierhart