Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Nutritional supplements – natural treatment for leading cause of blindness

Eyesight is the most precious of the senses. Tragically, there are 30 to 50 million cases of blindness worldwide, and a far greater number of people suffering from visual impairment of some kind (Jacques 1999). Two of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness are age-related macular degeneration and age-related cataracts (Gerster 1991; Jacques 1999). Age-Related Macular Degeneration is an incurable eye disease and is the number one cause of blindness for those aged 55 and older in the United States, affecting more than 10 million Americans. The good news is that researchers have discovered that nutritional supplements containing certain antioxidants can reduce the risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration and may act as a natural treatment of the disease process.

What causes Macular Degeneration?

As we grow older, the process by which we see begins to break down and wear out. Age Related Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina known as the macula, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The macula is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fine detail.
Eye Vitamins- New Scientific Evidence for the treatment and prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
A seven year ground breaking study known as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), reported in the October 2001 Archives of Ophthalmology, is the largest clinical trial to have tested the impact of nutritional supplements on Macular Degeneration.AREDS involved nearly 5,000 women and men, ages 55-80, at 11 clinical centers in the U.S. It showed that vitamin supplements containing high-doses of Anti-Oxidants and Zinc reduced the likelihood of progression of intermediate and advanced degrees of macular degeneration by 25%!
How do nutritional supplements work as treatment of Age-Related Eye Disease?
New research suggests that nutritional supplements containing antioxidants can significantly reduce the risk of eye disease. Macular degeneration and other eye diseases are related to damage caused by free radicals, highly reactive molecules that destroy components of the body. Free radicals are found in everything from air pollution to food preservatives and some are essential for normal metabolic processes, however the body can’t handle excess free radicals and they are considered one of the main causes of the aging process itself. Researchers have known for years that antioxidants seem to retard free radical damage in the body.
Are some anti-oxidants better than others in the treatment and prevention of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Yes. Carotenoids, a class of natural fat-soluble pigments found principally in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria play a critical role in the photosynthetic process and act as powerful biological antioxidants. Epidemiological studies have shown that a high dietary intake of carotenoids, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin, is associated with a reduced risk for AMD (Seddon et al. 1994) It has also been shown experimentally that regular consumption of lutein supplements can increase the macular pigment density in the eye, which may potentially reduce the risk for later development of AMD (Landrum et al. 1997)
Do any natural supplements designed to prevent and treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration contain carotenoids?
Yes. OcuPower, from Natraceutical Sciences Institute contains Betatene, a mixture of natural occuring carotenoids including not only beta carotene, but also zeaxanthin, lutein, lycopene, alpha carotene and cryptoxanthin. Ocupower, includes a more potent formula of lutein and lycopene that most other eye products. It also contains Opti-Zinc, a highly absorbable form of this mineral which was shown helpful in preventing and slowing the progress of macular degeneration in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS).
*******
he colors are more beautiful, the sky is more beautiful, and everything is much more well-lit!”

Sam Calucci, 84
Participant in the LAST study, and a dedicated OcuPower user.

OcuPOWER Proven Effective

BilberryLuteinAlpha Lipoic Acidand other antioxidants prove beneficial in the treatment and prevention of Age-Related eye disease including Macular Degeneration and Cataracts.

OcuPOWER,

Only patent pending OcuPOWER combines: Betatene & Ester-C Vitamins A, E & B-Complex, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Standardized Bilberry, Lycopene, Lutein, L-OptiZinc, and 30 other naturally effective vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients & amino acids all demonstrated to have powerful benefits for your vision and overall health!

To Purchase or find out more about OcuPOWER

Click Here

OcuPower from Natures Wealth is Best Support for Healthy Vision
I see an average of 300 patients a week in my practice and a good percentage of them have some degree of macular degeneration. Unfortunately, traditional medicine has little to offer these patients, and its truly heart breaking to have to explain this to those who are in the advanced stages.

I have come to believe in the benefits which are possible through superior nutrition and avoidance of toxins because I have witnessed this myself. Clearly the way to avoid this inevitable deterioration and eventual loss of ones sight is through a nutritional approach.

Recent scholarly research indicates that the ingredients in OcuPower from NSI may significantly protect and maintain healthy vision as we age. I feel OcuPower is the best eye supplement formula presently available and Im thrilled to have the opportunity to recommend OcuPower to my patients.

Peter A. Larsen, M.D.
Board Certified Ophthalmologist and Ophthalmic surgeon
NSI Advisory Board Member

***
References
Jacques, P.F. (1999) The potential preventive effects of vitamins for cataract and age-related macular degeneration. Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res., 69:198-205.
Gerster, H. (1991) Antioxidant protection of the ageing macula. Age Ageing, 20:60-69.
Seddon, J.M., U.A. Ajani, R.D. Sperduto, R. Hiller, N. Blair, T.C. Burton, M.D. Farber, E.S. Gragoudas, J. Haller, D.T. Miller, L.A. Yannuzzi, and W. Willett. (1994) Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. J.Am. Med. Assoc., 272:1413-1420.
Landrum, J.T., R.A. Bone, L.L. Moore, and C.M. Gomez. (1999) Analysis of zeaxanthin distribution within individual human retinas. Meth. Enzymol., 299:457-467.

		Clinically Proven to Improve Vision in Age Related Macular Degeneration Patients
	An Effective Vision Vitamin for Macular Degeneration, and for General Eye Health