ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Macula Degeneration: The Blindness You Can Prevent

Updated on July 15, 2012

Keep Your Eyes Healthy and Working: Stop Macular Degeneration

I go for yearly eye checkups and no one has ever suggested I get tested for Macular Degeneration. I have asked for the simple test and gotten it, but learned that while insurance companies pay for other tests, they don't pay for this one. Here is my story about why this is wrong.

I have three loved ones who suffered from this. My uncle, who died blind, my aunt who is just starting to get treatment and my Dad who had never heard of it, until at 83 he was lucky enough to have a doctor who tested him. He's 91 now and still struggling, but we are grateful for the care he has. However had he been tested earlier he would be better.

This lens will tell you what macular degeneration is, how to prevent it and what you can do to keep it from getting worse.

This Lens of The Day May Save Someone's Sight!

April 5, 2011

I have hoped that this would be Lens of the Day for a while now, and someone nominated it; it was chosen.

I am proud of this lens and appreciate the accolade, but more importantly, the publicity from the LOTD will ensure that more people read this lens and one of them, or someone they know, may be able to save their sight because of the information here.

I humbly thank everyone who had a part in this LOTD

Three Stories About Macular Degeneration

My uncle died at 93, both deaf and blind. The deafness was probably excellerated by damage from years as a railroad man. The blindness came from Macular Degeneration, a disease that strikes over 300,000 people every year, and is a growing cause of blindness.

My Dad was diagnosed with both kinds, wet and dry, one in each eye, 8 years ago. It was almost an accident that he went to the doctor he did for glasses. He happened to go to one who knew something about it and diagnosed him. That doctor sent him to an expert who has watched Dad's eyes like a hawk, so to speak. Dad has a lot of problems with his eyes, has to go for frequent treatments, but he can see; at 91 with MD in both eyes, he can still see.

Uncle Orval was Mom's brother. His wife, Aunt Elaine and my Dad are the only two left. She is in Iowa and he is in North Carolina, but they talk a lot on the phone.

One day he was very worried about her. She was told she might have Macular Degeneration, but hadn't scheduled and appointment. She didn't think it was a big deal. She is a lovely person, but that tends to be her reaction and even though her husband went blind, Dad couldn't convince her. Now, Dad is not the kind of guy to tell people what to do, so he probably didn't push, but he was worried.

I got on the phone to my cousin and explained what medical treatment had done for Dad. My cousins didn't know anything about it. She has since been to the doctor's. Hopefully one as good as Dad's.

Three stories, all different; two with happier endings. Thinking of my friendly, gregarious uncle as deaf and blind is not a happy thing.

Please get yourself tested.

Fritz Arrowsmith Talks About His Macular Degeneration, Treatment and Helpful Aids

Fritz Arrowsmith, 91, my dad, has been dealing with AMD for 8 years. He had not heard of the disease, but was lucky to go to an optimitrist who recognized it and sent him on. He has some very important information to share.

The Human Eye

The Human Eye
The Human Eye

What Is Macular Degeneration?

AMD Strikes Blue Eyes More Than Brown

This is a disease which results in loss of vision in center of the visual field due to damage to the retina. It usually strikes older adults.

"The inner layer of the eye is the retina, which contains nerves that communicate sight, and behind the retina is the choroid, which contains the blood supply to the retina.

In the dry (nonexudative) form, cellular debris called drusen accumulate between the retina and the choroid, and the retina can become detached. In the wet (exudative) form, which is more severe, blood vessels grow up from the choroid behind the retina, and the retina can also become detached. It can be treated with laser coagulation, and with medication that stops and sometimes reverses the growth of blood vessels".

Dry Macular Degeneration

Dry Macular Degeneration
Dry Macular Degeneration

Testing Can Save You From Blindness Through Macular Degeneration

Have You Ever Been Tested for Macula Degeneration?

See results

Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet Macular Degeneration
Wet Macular Degeneration

Five High Risk Issues for Macular Degeneration

1. Age - the risk increases with age

2. Cigarette smoking

3. A family history of macular degeneration

4. Excessive exposure to sunlight

5. High blood pressure and/or cardiovascular disease

And What To Do About Macular Degeneration Risks

Well you can't do anything about your age or your genetic history, but you can insist on Macular testing each and every time you go to the eye doctor for glaucoma testing. Heck, you can do that even if you don't have a family history.

Dad, aunt and uncle were of a generation that didn't wear sunglasses. However, the sun wasn't as harsh then as now. Don't go out without sunglasses!

If you smoke, stop. You know a million other reasons, but you if think it won't kill you, think of living to a blind old age.

A doctor once told me that Macular Degeneration came from the same things that caused people to need heart bi-passes. Makes sense since we have learned that the blood vessels are what affect the middle vision and can make that area stop working. Doing what is good for your blood vessels will also help your eyes. Thus you can take care of your eyes with good nutrition and exercise, just like your heart.

Normal Vision from National Eye Institute

Normal Vision from National Eye Institute
Normal Vision from National Eye Institute

With Macular Degeneration NEI

With Macular Degeneration  NEI
With Macular Degeneration NEI

I Just Saw the Scariest Picture About Macular Degeneration!

Must Take Action!

1. I am going to call the doctor and get tested!

2. Oh, and call an EFT expert to help me quit smoking.

3. And finally look into that heart healthy, now also eye healthy eating plan!

4. Oh, and find my sunglasses and wear them!

373/19

Still Not Movitated to Get Tested This WeeK? Come On, Its Easier Than Glaucoma Testing, Just Do It!

Still Not Movitated to Get Tested This WeeK? Come On, Its Easier Than Glaucoma Testing, Just Do It!
Still Not Movitated to Get Tested This WeeK? Come On, Its Easier Than Glaucoma Testing, Just Do It!

Did You Know These Things?

I Do What I Have to Do to Prevent This Disease

See results

Macular Degeneration Can Be Prevented; It Can Be Slowed---IT CAN'T BE REVERSED---GET TESTED NOW!

Macular Degeneration  Can Be Prevented; It Can Be Slowed---IT CAN'T BE REVERSED---GET TESTED NOW!
Macular Degeneration Can Be Prevented; It Can Be Slowed---IT CAN'T BE REVERSED---GET TESTED NOW!

Any Purchase Here Will Contribute to Heifer International: The Pay It Forward Entrepreneurial Charity

Important Books About Macular Degeneration To Read

Some of them are for the patient, some for the family, some for prevention. This is something that can be preventing or treated. As of today it cannot be cured.

Help Reading and TV

Videos About AMD

I would love to hear your comments on the lens, stars appreciated!

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)