Medication and Age Related Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a vision problem and is either classified as being either dry or wet.The most common type of macular degeneration is the dry type, but in approximately 15% of individuals with age-related macular degeneration, it has progressed to the point where it is considered to be wet. It slowly robs a person of their eyesight and makes it difficult for them to lead a normal life.That doesn`t mean, however, that you are completely without options when it comes to controlling AMD. In fact, here are 3 tips that may be able to help you to maintain your optical health and your eyesight.One important thing for you to consider are the types of medications that you are using regularly.Some medications may have side effects which could affect your blood vessels, particularly those that are in the eye. This could include many over-the-counter medications, such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen and aspirin.If the blood vessels in the eyes are affected negatively, it could result in hemorrhaging which could lead to macular degeneration.There may also be many prescription medications which can also have a similar effect and may have an additional side effect that would contribute even further to see vision loss that you may be experiencing.Cholesterol is a hot topic in medical circles. Many doctors consider your cholesterol level to be an overall indicator of your health.As it turns out, it may also be an indicator as to your optical health as well.In individuals with age-related macular degeneration, spots have formed on the retina which contains cholesterol. It is important to note, this is not an indication that you are getting too much cholesterol in your diet but it is an indication that your retina is no longer able to convert that cholesterol into usable hormones. If you eat properly, you can boost your good cholesterol levels which may help the conversion process and could help to save your eyesight. It is likely that you were unfamiliar with AMD until you got your diagnosis. If you have already been diagnosed with AMD, make sure that you visit your eye doctor on a regular basis.They will help to ensure that you are getting the treatment that is necessary to avoid further vision loss, if at all possible.They will also be able to check for the progression to wet macular degeneration , in which additional, more aggressive treatment is necessary.