What is Macular Degeneration?

A Look into the Disease that Causes Blindness in More Americans Than Cataracts and Glaucoma Combined

What Is Macular Degeneration?
A Look into the Disease That Causes Blindness in More Americans than Cataracts and Glaucoma Combined

A Personal Note about This Disease

In 2003, my mother (who is now 86 years young) went to a specialist to have cataracts removed. After in depth testing, it was discovered that behind the cataracts she had both wet and dry macular degeneration that even after removal of the cataracts her vision would never be normal again. That was all that was told to us. The only treatment available at the time was a drug called Visudyne. Visudyne is a green liquid that is prepared in a darkened lab room and is used in Photodynamic Therapy or PDT. This stuff glows in the dark like a bright neon green light. This treatment could only be done once a month and for the following three days after the treatment, the patient has to stay out of the sun. This only slows down the progression of macular degeneration for there is no known cure. We were shown a video about the disease, the treatment and various types of equipment that could be acquired to help the patient see better doing day to day chores such as reading a newspaper, recipes, writing checks, etc. That was it. Our family doctor never told us anything else. We basically were left in the dark for years not truly knowing what the disease was, how it occurs in people, what kind of people get it, etc. I was left to my own devices to educate my mother and myself about this disease. My mother now is "legally blind", has difficulty walking due to the distorted images she sees or does not see and can no longer see the thermostat for the furnace or the dial on the oven. She has lost a part of her quality of life and her independence. Now thanks to the information I have obtained for myself, my mother's chances have greatly increased to get back a portion of her sight and alot of her independence.

Now I would like to pass on this information to you my readers in the event yourself, either a relative or a close friend may have this disease.