Carotenoids in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration of the retina - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.

Age-related macular degeneration of the retina( vmd) among people over 45 years of age occurs in 58-100% of cases. This is a chronic disease associated with the lesion of the macular( central) region of the retina, which reduces the severity of central vision. The macula or yellow spot is the zone of the best vision, where the bulk of photoreceptors and the pigments of interest to us are focused: lutein and zeaxanthin.

Main symptoms of age-related macular degeneration of the retina

- gradual decrease in vision,
- changes mainly concern the central vision region,
- often affects both eyes,
- distortion, fogging of straight lines,
- decreased contrast of vision,
- spot,parts of the field of view,
- falling out of text, letters during reading.

Risk factors for AMD development:

- age( over 45 years)
- diabetes
- atherosclerosis
- lipid metabolism violation
- smoking
- arterial hypertension
- increased insolation( sunlight effect)

Diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration of the retina

IMPORTANT!If you are suspected of developing a pathological process, as soon as possible, contact an ophthalmologist. Age-related macular degeneration of the retina is a disease in which effective treatment can be achieved only in the early stages.

To modernize the diagnosis, modern ophthalmology has the following research methods:

Traditional:

- definition of visual acuity,
- biomicroscopy using high-dioptric lenses.

Modern, computerized methods:

- definition of fields of vision,
- optical coherence tomography,
- fluorescent retinal angiography.

Changes in the structure of the macula in age-related macular degeneration of the retina

We will not delve into the differences between the wet and dry forms of age-related macular degeneration of the retina, in both cases, all layers of the retina, predominantly the central zone, are affected. One of these layers is the pigment epithelium, which is interesting for us in that it contains the lion's share of carotenoids( pigment: lutein and zeaxanthin).

Pigment epithelium is a structure located outside the nervous part of the retina that performs multiple functions, for example: metabolic, optical, barrier. In the process of progressing age-related macular degeneration, pigment epithelial cell dyspigmentation and atrophy occurs. These changes lead to thinning and atrophy of the retina neuroepithelium due to degeneration and death of photoreceptors, atrophy of the cells of the outer nuclear layer of the retina that are subject to chorio capillaries.

What are carotenoids, their function in the eye?

Lutein and zeaxanthin are natural carotenoids that do not have A-vitamin activity. The main part of lutein is concentrated in the organ of vision, namely about 70% is in the area of ​​the macula, the macula of the retina. These substances are not synthesized in the body, so people get them with certain foods.

Functions of carotenoids in the eye:

• Antioxidant effect of
The retina refers to tissues with a high risk of oxidative damage, this is due to the constant action of intense, focused light, which stimulates the formation of free radicals, abundantly provided with blood vessels, oxidation substrates. The mechanism of the protective action of lutein, zeaxanthin is to bind and inactivate the active form of oxygen.

• Optical filter
The mechanism consists in filtering the visually ineffective part of the spectrum, reducing the flow of the most aggressive part of the visible spectrum - 400-500 nm.

Regardless of the fact that 97% of carotenoids circulating in the human body are in the eye, namely in the retina and mainly in the area of ​​the macula, their content necessarily decreases with age. But no less important is the decrease in bioavailability, that is, the amount of substance that has reached its fixation sites in the human body is reduced. This suggests that after 45 years it is useless to eat baskets filled with carotenoids, the percentage of getting them into the retina is too small.

Treatment of age-related macular degeneration of the retina by carotenoids

It should be noted that age-related macular degeneration is a disease that requires lifelong observation and is often difficult to treat. The effect of the measures taken depends on the timeliness of the treatment begun, naturally on the form and stage of the development of the disease, the combination of medical, laser, and surgical treatment.

If you have maculodystrophy, taking lutein and zeaxanthin will not return your vision, but will help prevent the progression of the disease. Taking medicines( lutein and zeaxanthin) makes sense for at least 3 months, otherwise the active substances simply will not reach the required concentration.

For conservative treatment often prescribed and various kinds of dystrophic drugs, antioxidants, immunomodulators, but none of these drugs has no evidence base.

Is it possible to cure age-related macular degeneration of the retina with carotenoids?

Curing age-related macular degeneration with drugs containing lutein and zeaxanthin is not possible. Age-related macular degeneration of the retina is a disease with gross disturbances in the layers of the retina, and the carotenoid subsidy will only protect it from further damage, but the way to cure lutein and zeaxanthin can not be called!

Coratines are the best way to prevent!

It can be precisely said that preparations containing lutein and zeaxanthin are the best way to prevent age-related macular degeneration of the retina.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are a very powerful protective factor, but with age, it has the property of lowering the concentration in the body. Therefore, adequate nutrition, if possible carotenoid supplementation, is indicated for persons who have reached the age of 45, who have eye diseases that are exposed to harmful factors in the course of their professional activities.

Carotenoids, namely lutein and zeaxanthin, are not a drug of choice for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, but it is an excellent tool for preventing and preventing the progression of macular degeneration.

Doctor ophthalmologist Voinov DA,
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