Human vision, My Mom's Eye Problems

My Mom's Eye Problems - Please Help

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Flyer9 #1 / 6	My Mom's Eye Problems - Please Help Hello group, My mother is 82 and was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist two years ago as having Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD/AMD) in both eyes. She was also diagnosed at the same time as having cataract formation in both eyes but they weren't ready to be operated on. For about a year and a half after the diagnosis, she could see fairly well, although not centrally due to the ARMD. However, on her last visit to her ophthalmologist in October he said that she was now ready for cataract surgery. He will be doing one eye in Feb/Mar and the other eye later, depending on how the first one turns out. She is going next to the eye clinic to have measurements taken for an interocular lens. Her problem now is that with ARMD combined with the cataracts, she is losing her vision altogether and she is very upset and panicked about that, as I'm sure most people would be. She is scared that the cataracts could go so far that they cannot be operated on successfully and that she will become totally blind in both eyes. Is there anything that you good people could tell her that might be reassuring to her (and to me also). Thanks very much! Bob.
Fri, 21 Jun 2002 03:00:00 GMT

(Glenn Hagele - Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance) glenn.hag.. #2 / 6	My Mom's Eye Problems - Please Help Having a "cataract" simply means that the natural lens of the eye has become cloudy. It is not a growth. It does not spread. It will not get better on its own. It is as much a part of the natural aging process of the eye as needing reading glasses. The effect of a cataractous lens is that light is not able to make it through the lens to the retina and be "seen". Some discoloration (usually toward yellow) of the light often occurs. Items seem fuzzy. As the lens becomes more and more cloudy, blindness can occur. It's not that the eye doesn't work anymore; it's just that the light can't get back to the retina. The current treatment is to remove the clouded natural lens and replace it with a plastic lens that approximates the focusing power of the original natural lens. There is virtually no chance of rejection of the plastic lens. Planned extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation is probably one of the most successful surgeries of all time. Removing the cataract will allow more light to get to your mom's retina and will increase her ability to see, perhaps dramatically. It is a surgery, and there should always be that concern, but you mom will undoubtedly be thrilled with the results. I'm sure you've asked your doctor about this, but cataract surgery should have no affect on your mom's ARMD. Glenn Hagele Executive Director Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance http://www.usaeyes.org
Fri, 21 Jun 2002 03:00:00 GMT

Anon Y Mou #3 / 6	My Mom's Eye Problems - Please Help Quote: >Hello group, >My mother is 82 and was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist two years ago as >having Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD/AMD) in both eyes. She was >also diagnosed at the same time as having cataract formation in both eyes >but they weren't ready to be operated on. For about a year and a half after >the diagnosis, she could see fairly well, although not centrally due to the >ARMD. >However, on her last visit to her ophthalmologist in October he said that >she was now ready for cataract surgery. He will be doing one eye in Feb/Mar >and the other eye later, depending on how the first one turns out. She is >going next to the eye clinic to have measurements taken for an interocular >lens. >Her problem now is that with ARMD combined with the cataracts, she is losing >her vision altogether and she is very upset and panicked about that, as I'm >sure most people would be. She is scared that the cataracts could go so far >that they cannot be operated on successfully and that she will become >totally blind in both eyes. Is there anything that you good people could >tell her that might be reassuring to her (and to me also). >Thanks very much! >Bob. The cataract surgery will help your mom a great deal. There is nothing to your statement that "the cataracts could go so far that they cannot be operated on successfully and that she will become totally blind in both eyes"-- the cataracts can be readily removed no matter how severe they have gotten. In fact, the worse they have gotten the more of a difference your Mom will appreciate when she has them removed! Regarding the ARMD, that is just a normal part of aging-- it can't be avoided. Your mother will no doubtedly be so pleased with the results of the cataract surgery that the ARMD will not be as big a problem-- with the cataracts cleared away, so much more light will hit the back of the eye that her vision will be much better regardless of the ARMD. If and when the ARMD gets very severe, there are "low vision" aids that can help your Mom-- see an optometrist specializing in low vision to find out about these things (specialized lenses, etc.). There is some evidence which supports the use of antioxidant vitamins to slow the progression of ARMD although its not proven. If she isn't taking a vitamin fortified with antioxidants, then suggest it. Try Ocuvite, Centrum gold, etc. Look for high levels of vitamins A, E, C, and selenium. Sincerely, RM (Relax, It's just an opinion, it could be wrong!) ======================
Fri, 21 Jun 2002 03:00:00 GMT

John Maso #4 / 6	My Mom's Eye Problems - Please Help Very sorry to hear about your mother, Bob. Mine had the same MD problem several years ago. I'm far from an expert in this area, but I had heard that cataract operations were fairly routine and successful these days. You might want to investigate some technological developments under development designed to help those with ARMD. Some years ago I saw a TV program covering a helmet/goggle type of device under development at John Hopkins' eye center. Later, saw another program about a similar but much more compact device being worked on a Emory University (Atlanta). Both were specifically for MD.Hope this helps--John Quote: > Hello group, > My mother is 82 and was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist two years ago as > having Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD/AMD) in both eyes. She was > also diagnosed at the same time as having cataract formation in both eyes > but they weren't ready to be operated on. For about a year and a half after > the diagnosis, she could see fairly well, although not centrally due to the > ARMD. > However, on her last visit to her ophthalmologist in October he said that > she was now ready for cataract surgery. He will be doing one eye in Feb/Mar > and the other eye later, depending on how the first one turns out. She is > going next to the eye clinic to have measurements taken for an interocular > lens. > Her problem now is that with ARMD combined with the cataracts, she is losing > her vision altogether and she is very upset and panicked about that, as I'm > sure most people would be. She is scared that the cataracts could go so far > that they cannot be operated on successfully and that she will become > totally blind in both eyes. Is there anything that you good people could > tell her that might be reassuring to her (and to me also). > Thanks very much! > Bob.
Fri, 21 Jun 2002 03:00:00 GMT

Flyer9 #5 / 6	My Mom's Eye Problems - Please Help Thanks to all who responded. You were very helpful. Bob. Quote: > Very sorry to hear about your mother, Bob. Mine had the same MD > problem several years ago. I'm far from an expert in this area, > but I had heard that cataract operations were fairly routine and > successful these days. You might want to investigate some > technological developments under development designed to help > those with ARMD. Some years ago I saw a TV program covering a > helmet/goggle type of device under development at John Hopkins' > eye center. Later, saw another program about a similar but much > more compact device being worked on a Emory University > (Atlanta). Both were specifically for MD.Hope this helps--John > > Hello group, > > My mother is 82 and was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist two years ago as > > having Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD/AMD) in both eyes. She was > > also diagnosed at the same time as having cataract formation in both eyes > > but they weren't ready to be operated on. For about a year and a half after > > the diagnosis, she could see fairly well, although not centrally due to the > > ARMD. > > However, on her last visit to her ophthalmologist in October he said that > > she was now ready for cataract surgery. He will be doing one eye in Feb/Mar > > and the other eye later, depending on how the first one turns out. She is > > going next to the eye clinic to have measurements taken for an interocular > > lens. > > Her problem now is that with ARMD combined with the cataracts, she is losing > > her vision altogether and she is very upset and panicked about that, as I'm > > sure most people would be. She is scared that the cataracts could go so far > > that they cannot be operated on successfully and that she will become > > totally blind in both eyes. Is there anything that you good people could > > tell her that might be reassuring to her (and to me also). > > Thanks very much! > > Bob.
Sat, 22 Jun 2002 03:00:00 GMT

drfran.. #6 / 6	My Mom's Eye Problems - Please Help The problem will be that if the armd progresses to such a point- cataract surgery will not work/help well because now it is a retinal problem. So it is not so much the cataract(s) getting worse as it is the armd getting worse. I have seen many patients that had less than desirable results shortly after cat surgery because of armd progression. Consider trying Lutein. Lutein is a sustance found in leafy veggies(spinach)that is available in over-the -counter supplement that may help. Also,as mentioned, zinc (found in ocuvite/icaps) may be of benefit. Regardless, gd luck to her. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
Sun, 23 Jun 2002 03:00:00 GMT

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