How Does Macular Degeneration Cause
Visual Impairment?
Age-related macular degeneration compromises senior
eye health by causing retinal atrophy symptoms . When this occurs, it is
known as dry macular
degeneration or atrophic macular degeneration. Dry Age-related macular degeneration symptoms include
the formation of drusen and atrophy of retinal pigment. In approximately
10% of patients, dry macular
degeneration progresses to wet macular degeneration. This is also known as
exudative macular degeneration. New blood vessels,
called sub-retinal neovascular membranes, abnormally leak blood and
protein. causing swelling and destruction of the retina. If the bleeding
is located in the center of the retina, this can cause severe and sudden vision loss.
Do Vitamin Supplements for Macular
Degeneration Work?
The National Eye Institute, part of the United States National
Institutes of Health, published the Age Related Eye Disease
Study (AREDS) in 2001. This study of macular support vitamins
demonstrated that high dose nutritional
supplements for macular degeneration slowed the progression of this
disease. However, while this study proved, for the first time, that
visual impairments could be reduced when vision was stabilized, it
failed to show visual improvement. Additionally, 6% of patients
experienced either urinary tract side or gastrointestinal side effects
from the high Zinc levels.
Subsequently, other studies have been performed. The
Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial (LAST) showed that when the
antioxidants used the the Age Related Eye Disease Study were combined
with 10 mg or more of Lutein, that vision improved in a significant
number of patients. Although Lutein can be derived synthetically, most
high quality vitamin supplements derive Zeaxanthin naturally from
Marigold flowers.
Additional studies have examined another carotenoid
in addition to beta-carotene and Lutein. The carotenoid is Zeaxanthin,
and has the distinction of being the carotenoid in the highest
concentration in healthy retinas and normal maculas.
High Dose Vitamins and Minerals to
Benefit Eye Health
VisiVite i-Defense Gold Formula uses each of
the five ingredients in the Age Related Eye Disease Study, but makes the
following important therapeutic improvements:
-
Zinc is reduced from 80 mg to 40 mg daily, to reduce
the urinary tract and gastrointestinal side effects experienced by 6% of
the patients in the study. As a result, VisiVite i-Defense Yellow
Formula has less than a 0.1% incidence of side effects that result in
having to discontinue the supplement.
-
15 mg of FloraGLO brand Lutein, derived naturally
from Marigold Flowers, is added, based upon the results of the Lutein
Antioxidant Supplementation Trial which showed vision improvement in
people that had macular degeneration. This is the highest quality Lutein
available in any macular degeneration nutritional formula.
-
4.75 mg of OPTISHARP brand Zeaxanthin, the "super
carotenoid," is added, resulting in improvement in retinal pigmentation,
powerful protection against further damage from ultraviolet light, and
finally, for its powerful antioxidant properties.
-
Additional antioxidants that prevent further
oxidative stress and damage to the retina are added, including
Bilberry, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Selenium, Grape Seed Extract and
L-glutathione.
-
Unlike other popular manufactures that use the
less expensive synthetic
dl-Alpha Vitamin E that has only 50% bioavailability, VisiVite formulas
use naturally derived d-Alpha Vitamin E with 100% bioavailability.
Take one capsule twice daily. Capsules may be opened into food or drink
for patients that have difficulty swallowing. UPC # 899205000300
Patients who have
a smoking history should use other i-Defense Formulas.
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