07/27/2018
Risk Factors:Macular Degeneration
Smoking presents a definite stress to nerve cells such as those in the macula. Ni****ne destabilizes nerve cell membranes. Smoking also reduces the quality of circulation both by triggering vasoconstriction and by increasing cholesterol levels. Each cigarette uses up 25 mg of Vitamin C, increasing the risk of retinal damage from sunlight. Smoking should be avoided completely in all forms of macular degeneration. Smokers increase their risk of ARM by 2.5 times. The average age at which smokers are affected is 64 versus 71, so quitting smoking could add 7 more years of good vision to your life. Smoking is also a significant risk factor for recurrent choroidal neovascularization.
Caffeine also impairs nerve cell health and the quality of circulation. Between 20 and 30 percent of Americans consume over 500 mg/day, which is equivalent to more than 2 cups of coffee. Caffeine causes vasoconstriction, hypertension, and results in a 13% reduction in blood flow to the retina.
Dry macular degeneration tends to occur more in nutritionally deficient hyperopic (farsighted) eyes in which sunlight, a photo-oxidative stress (by production of superoxide radicals) is most intensely focused on the cells behind the retina, where the initial damage and atrophy begins in dry macular degeneration, with impairment of the phagocytic abilities of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, resulting in build up of hard drusen deposits. This represents an accumulation of lipofuscin at a cellular level within the retina due to either UV exposure or some other oxidative stress beyond the antioxidant protection capacity of the tissue. When superoxide dysmutase (SOD) levels are adequate with proper nutritional support, and with freedom from cellular toxicity, normal exposure to sunlight may not present a danger by itself.
Wet ARM appears more related to excessive and denatured protein as well as excessive and improper fats in the diet, along with other micro-nutritional considerations.
Other factors which have long been thought to be linked to macular degeneration include atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, fatigue, stress, and infections. Carotid artery stenosis and other vascular occlusive disease which restricts nutrition and oxygen to the retina contributes to macular degeneration. The growth of new blood vessels associated with the wet type is particulary related to retinal hypoxia as the trigger.
