New technology and proper nutrition when combined may decrease needless vision loss from macular degeneration states Dr Michael Lange
Dr Michael Lange an optometric physician and certified nutrition specialist says the way we diagnose and initiate treatment for macular degeneration is changing. Dr Lange is the owner of Lange Eye Care and Associates a large optometric / ophthalmological eye care center in Florida consisting of 10 locations. The key with dry macular degeneration is early detection and then start the patient on the appropriate dietary plan and regiment of supplements. Dr Lange states that specific lifestyle changes are a very important aspect of helping the macular degenerative patients as well. Many new discoveries in technology and nutrition are proving to be beneficial for the macular degeneration patient. The doctors at Lange Eye Care in Florida are helping patients become pro active in their future eye health. Dr Lange says we are seeing fewer patients progressing to legal blindness if they follow some specific recommendations we make.
DNA testing for macular degeneration has really opened our eyes on the way we make nutritional recommendations for our patients. We use a DNA test called Macular Risk that is a simple in office cheek swab that is covered by most insurance and medicare. Any of our patients that have any early signs of macular degeneration will have this DNA test done in the office. The results take about six weeks and will give the doctor an idea of how aggressive the macular degeneration may be based on a scale 1-5. This DNA test also allows us to determine if zinc is actually good for the retina of this particular patient or potentially bad for the patient. New studies indicate that close to 50% of patients that have specific DNA for macular degeneration need to be taking supplements without zinc! This new science is allowing us to customize the vitamin formulations our macular degeneration patients take. Most OTC macular degeneration vitamins have 80 mg of zinc oxide that may be toxic to many patients. Fortifeye Vitamins was the first in the industry to address this with a zinc free macular degeneration supplement. This is a whole body supplement not just an eye vitamin that we recommend quite often clinically based on these DNA tests. to learn more go to http://www.fortifeye.com , Optometrists and Ophthalmologists must test DNA if they are making nutritional recommendations for macular degeneration. Dr Lange believes if we make the retina healthier then we make the entire body healthier and vice versa. If DNA testing is not done for whatever reason, Dr Lange recommends patients with frequent Urinary tract infections, neuro degeneration, prostate issues or kidney problems to avoid zinc and he does not recommend going any higher than 40 mg of zinc in others without doing DNA testing. Dr Lange says we have seen many patients actually improve once we have put them on DNA directed nutritional supplements and diets. We will also make specific dietary recommendations based on the results of the DNA, some foods are much higher than others in zinc. The take home message for this is Test patients DNA whenever conditions warrant. This DNA test will also help the doctor determine how often and what additional test will need to be run on each patient. A patient with a risk factor of five will warrant more frequent office visits and specific retina tests versus a risk 1.http://macularisk.com/
Dr Michael Lange is using Zinc Free Macular Defense by Fortifeye on close to 50% of the patients he sees with ARMD. This is a formula Dr Lange developed and has been using for some time. Fortifeye Vitamins has six different levels of supplements that can be recommended by eye care providers based on weight, age, disease level and DNA. Dr Lange states ” everyone’s DNA is different and therefore everyone’s nutritional recommendations wont be the same”. Dr Lange also believes in discussing specific dietary recommendations with his macular degeneration patients. He will recommend patients consuming foods that are high in lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin and resveratrol. He recommends patients try to follow a gluten-free organic paleo diet, get plenty of exercise, hydration and sleep. He really pushes Omega 3 from fish or good triglyceride form omega 3 fish oil like Fortifeye Super Omega. Dr Lange says that all the science is so positve for taking the correct form of omega 3. The essential fatty acids in omgea three act like a shuttle system for the carotenoids and increase the absorption. Taking omega 3 fish oil while taking the new Fortifeye Zinc Free Macular Defense is what Dr Michael Lange recommends.
Science has concluded that not only the UV light from the sun is harmful to the eye but maybe even more harmful is the Blue light. Blue light is emitted from both natural and artificial light sources during the day and night. The doctors at Lange Eye Care recommend all patients especially macular degeneration patients use either Blu Tech lenses ,crizal Prevencia or Viso Prevensia. These are new generation lenses that block UV and also have blue filtering properties as well. Dr Lange says it is crucial to filter the blue light in patients especially macular degeneration patients after cataract surgery. More and more evidence is emerging promoting the potential ocular health benefits and overall health benefits from filtering the blue light. http://blutechlenses.com/faq/, http://www.crizalprevencia.com/
Dr Michael Lange is very excited about a new at home monitoring device developed for macular degeneration patients called Foresee Home AMD Monitoring program. Dr Lange’s office will be one of the first eye care centers in the country to utilize this technology. This is the first FDA cleared home telemonitoring system for macular degeneration patients. ForeseeHome allows patients to take a proactive role in preserving their vision at home. This advanced technology allows for the detection of early macular changes before the patients is aware. The device transmits the results of the test daily to a monitoring center via a cellular modem or phone line. This device has been clinically proven to be extremely sensitive at picking up the earliest change from dry macular degeneration to the more visually devastating form called wet macular degeneration. The data center then alerts the doctors office of the potential changes in the patients retina and allows for much earlier intervention by the retina specialist to lessen the potential damage! http://www.foreseehome.com/patients.html
In summary the combination of DNA testing to know what nutritional recommendation to make combined with filtering the blue light may have a positive impact on decreasing the chances of dry armd from converting to wet armd. Then daily at home testing with ForeseeHome will alert the physician at the earliest time for potential dry armd turning wet. Remember the key is early detection. Doctors can utilize the new DNA testing to help gauge what supplements and who will need the at home testing device. Patients with macular degeneration or a family history of macular degeneration need to see Optometrists and Ophthalmologists that are in tune with this new technology. This combination of advanced technology and nutrition will enhance peoples lives by helping to preserve their vision. http://www.langeeyecare.com
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