Supplement proven effective for macular degeneration
Q. I am a 73-year-old man. I was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration about a year ago by my optometrist. He used a special camera to photograph my retina to establish a base image. He repeated the process this year and noticed differences, which he showed me. I then had a second opinion from an ophthalmologist, who confirmed the diagnosis.
Both doctors recommended a product called Ocuvite PreserVision, which I have been using for the past year. I take the AREDS formulations, and so far my condition has not worsened. I attribute that to the supplement.
Marketed by Bausch and Lomb, it comes in several formulations. It is available in most drugstores and supermarkets.
A. Thank you for sharing your experience with this product.
Ocuvite PreserVision is an over-the-counter supplement that contains vitamins A, C and E, zinc and copper. The AREDS formulation is the only supplement proven effective in reducing the risk of developing AMD and the risk of vision loss associated with moderate to advanced cases of AMD. The AREDS formulation is so named because it was tested during the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, which was sponsored by the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The study lasted for 10 years.
While the supplement is not a cure, it was shown to reduce the risk of developing AMD by 25 percent in those at high risk as well as reducing the risk of vision loss by 19 percent in those with advanced cases. Before starting any supplement, it is important to speak with your physician about whether the supplement is right for you.
Go online to nei.nih.gov/amd/summary.asp if you would like to learn more about the study and the supplement. This Web page covers how the product should be taken, who should or shouldn't take it, and where to get more information.
Q. After reading your article about thyroid malfunction and its influence on mental health, I had to write.
In 1991, my husband started complaining about being foggy-brained and lethargic. His doctor ordered tests and found that he had extraordinarily high levels of calcium in his blood. He told us that this was a sign of cancer or a malfunctioning parathyroid gland.
After further tests, they found that my husband had tumors on his parathyroid gland, which were removed at the Cleveland Clinic. After the surgery, he was back to normal. His specialists told us that untold numbers of people with this condition end up in mental hospitals because the high calcium level causes them to seem insane.
A. Thank you for sharing your story. Your husband was lucky to have had prompt testing and a knowledgeable physician who could properly interpret the results and treat him.
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