The condition your friend has is called Charles Bonnet Syndrome. In patients who have eye diseases that prevent the normal nerve impulses from reaching the brain, there is speculation that spontaneous nerve activity may be generated by the brain, causing the visual hallucinations. I explain it to my patients saying the brain wants to see so badly that it sometimes creates things to see. Remember the eye is like a camera and vision is really in the brain.

The syndrome appears to be more common in women than men and it is more likely to occur if both eyes are affected by disease. They are most frequently of animals, people, faces, or scenery. Patients know that the hallucinations are not real and they may last for seconds or for most of the day. They tend to disappear when people close their eyes. The syndrome may be experienced for a period ranging from days to years. For most people with macular degeneration, the condition is managed by educating the patient and their family and reassuring them that they are not "going insane" or suffering from a psychotic disorder.

This is great question and one that I am asked often. Some limited studies appear to indicate that eating a diet high in carotenoids, antioxidant vitamins (such C and E), and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD); however, more research is required before definitive statements can be made.

Carotenoids are compounds that are found in plants, which have been associated with protection not only from macular degeneration, but from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other medical conditions. Dark green, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, especially those high in the carotenoids known as lutein and zeaxanthin, appear to provide the best protection for AMD. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the primary pigments in the macula and are thought to protect the retina from ultraviolet light.

Lutein is found in spinach, collard greens, kale, broccoli, papaya, oranges, kiwi, mango, green beans, peaches, sweet potatoes, lima beans, squash, red grapes, and green bell pepper. Yellow corn, honeydew melon, squash, oranges, mango, kale, apricots, peaches, and orange bell pepper are good sources of zeaxanthin.

Foods abundant in vitamin C include green peppers, citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries, sweet and white potatoes, leafy greens, and cantaloupe. Vitamin E is found in eggs, fortified cereals, fruit, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, nuts/nut oils, vegetable oils, and whole grains.
Wild salmon, sardines, walnuts, and flaxseed oil are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Excellent question! Cataracts are early opacities in the lens of the eye. The lens is clear when we are born and begins to cloud as we get older. Everyone develops some degree of cataract at some point in his or her life. The decision to remove a cataract should be made in consultation with your eye doctor. When people have retina diseases such as AMD, the vision may not improve as much as someone with healthy retinas. Remember, the eye is a camera and the retina is the film. Bad film always equals bad pictures. As to your question about will cataract surgery worsen the AMD, the answer is no. Many studies have looked at this and there is no evidence that cataract surgery will cause progression of your macular degeneration.

Many doctors are using Avastin rather than Lucentis to treat wet AMD, despite the fact that the former drug has not been approved by the FDA for this use. When a drug is used for a non-FDA-approved purpose by a physician, it’s being used off-label, and this is actually a very common practice in medicine. Why would doctors choose Avastin instead of the drug that is approved for this use? Because Lucentis costs more than $2000 per treatment, and Avastin costs less than $50 per treatment. Both drugs are made by Genentech. It’s hard not to think that financial incentive played a large role in the company’s choice to seek FDA approval for Lucentis rather than Avastin for AMD treatment.

Many doctors feel that there is no advantage to using Lucentis over Avastin and use it as first-line therapy. Avastin seems to have a longer duration of action than Lucentis and may require fewer injections to benefit patients. A new head-to-head trial will compare the two drugs. Results of this study are expected in 2009. For now, if your doctor recommends anti-VEGF treatment, talk with him or her about which drug will best suit your needs.

I am often asked this question because it makes sense that if the retinas were bleeding then thinning the blood would make it worse. Actually, there is no evidence that blood thinners cause the wet form of AMD. However, when a patient is on a blood thinner, the bleeding that may occur can be more extensive. Thankfully this is a relatively rare complication.

In addition, the potential life saving value of blood thinners must also be considered so we do not generally recommend stopping them when a medical doctor has prescribed them appropriately. If you are on a blood thinner then your doctor has a good reason, I always say, "what good are your eyes if you’re not alive to use them"? All medications have potential risks, hazards, benefits and alternatives and discussing these with your doctor is crucial before making any change.

Alan, this is a question I am often asked. AMD is extremely rare in children. By definition AMD is age-related and it takes a lifetime to develop. There are diseases that give the appearance of AMD in children but are different disorders. Most are genetic or hereditary retinal degenerations or dystrophies. The prognosis and course of the disease is very different from AMD. Most are progressive and may be associated with night blindness or color vision difficulties. There is no cure or treatment for these retinal degenerations. Tests to confirm the disease are FA, ERG, and EOG and most retina specialist should be able to diagnosis easily with these tests.

Excellent question and the answer is absolutely yes. Our vitamins were created for those with AMD but just as importantly those looking to give their eyes protection from such diseases. There is mounting clinical research that antioxidants and vitamins may play an even greater role in prevention than in slowing progression of existing AMD. If you are concerned about developing AMD or just want to promote better ocular health, then our formula is not only the most complete on the market but also 100% safe.

Remember that ocular nutrition is only one component, please visit our "Take Control Now" section on our front page to see what else can be done to protect your eyes from the ravages of time.

Most likely what you are seeing is a floater or an opacity in the vitreous jelly of the eye. As we age, the jelly in the eye begins to breakdown. We develop clumps that we see as floaters of spots. They don't always move around the eye. If enough jelly breaks down then we can get a separation of the jelly from the retina, this is called a posterior-vitreous detachment or a PVD. This is common and occurs in everyone around 45-65 years old. If you see flashing lights or sudden onset of numerous floaters then you should contact your eye doctor. If the jelly does not separate easily from the retina it can tear the retina which could lead to a retinal detachment.

Thanks for your question. Absolutely, the supplement is effective for the hereditary form. The omega-3 in the formula is from Flax seed, so it is vegetarian friendly. As a relative of someone with AMD, you should consider taking an ocular vitamin. As you know AMD is inherited and early prevention can make the difference between getting AMD and avoiding it.

Dry Eye Syndrome is extremely common and can cause eye irritation and a sensation of burning. Other symptoms are blurred vision and foreign body sensation. You can try artificial tear drops for temporary relief. Some people find this cumbersome and not practical. They are especially helpful prior to watching tv or reading.

EyeScience offers a Dry Eye Formula in a pill form that also can help provide relief. It is more convienient than drops and can provide more long lasting relief. it may take 4 weeks for maximum effect so please use artificial tear till then. Thanks for your question.

Our product does not have beta-carotene in it. It is safe for smokers and past smokers. There is new research that concludes that beta-carotene in a pill form is not effective for eye health. In fact the best way to support your eye health with beta-carotene is from a food source.

Carotenoids are macular pigments that protect and support the fovea. The most important of these is lutein and zeaxanthin. Research has concluded that these are much more effective than beta-carotene, also a carotenoid. The proper ratio of lutein and zeaxanthin is a 5:1 ratio. Most products don't have this. Most products don't even contain zeaxanthin in their formulation. Lutein by itself has been found to be not effective for the eye, it needs zeaxanthin to work properly and synergistically.

EyeScience Macular Health formula is the only product on the retail market that has this proper ratio of Lutein and Zeazanthin. It's formula is based on the new AREDS 2 formula. It also contains omega-3 which has been shown in numerous studies to slow down AMD.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Rich, thanks for your question. Vitamin A was left out purposefully. Research now concludes that Vitamin A in a pill form is not helpful to the eye. It is best to get Vitamin A from food sources. Lutien and Zeaxanthin are much more effective caratenoids than Vitamin A. In the new AREDS 2 trial Vitamin A was also left out.

Tozal is a good product, although expensive and only available through certain distributors. There are a number of downsides to this product in my opinion. 1) The Vitamin E is 1/2 of what the AREDS formula called for. 2) Zinc level is too high 3) It contains Vitamin A which has not been shown to be effective in the pill form and potentially dangerous to previous or current smokers. 4) And most importantly they do not have the correct ratio of Lutein to Zeaxanthin. The AREDS 2 formula is a 5:1 ration and Tozal is not even close to this. They have 10 mg of lutein to 500 micro grams of Zeaxanthin, this should be 2 mg. We know from research that the 5:1 ratio is the optimal ratio and subsequently was chosen for the AREDS 2 formulation by the National Eye Institute. I hope this helps, please feel free to ask additional questions.