Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)

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Allyson Tyler
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1 Preserve Vision Information Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Regular examination by your ophthalmologist will allow early detection and treatment.

2 Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) What is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD) and how do you recognise it? AMD is a major cause of severe visual impairment and can occur as early as age 50. It affects the eye and is the result of damage to the provides clear vision. Those affected notice a central blurred spot and visual distortion e.g. straight lines suddenly appear bent or wavy. There are two forms of AMD 2. Wet AMD This less common form of macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels with fragile walls grow into the retina. Liquid and blood leak from these abnormal vessels leading to a generally rapid deterioration in vision. Patients see their environment, for example faces, as blurred and distorted. Straight lines are bent, numbers and letters look like strange symbols. When reading, patients often do not see individual letters or words. Wet AMD is treated with modern medication including injections directly into the vitreous body of the eye, carried out at intervals of several weeks. These quickly stop development of the condition and generally lead to an improvement in the impaired vision. 1. Dry AMD The more common form of AMD affects 85 % of patients. Small deposits, so-called drusen, appear on the retina and can be identified on the back of the eye by an ophthalmologist examining through the dilated pupil. In its early stages, the condition generally goes unnoticed by the patient. It develops slowly and, over the course of years, leads to a reduction in the function of photoreceptors which the patient notices as an increasing deterioration of their vision. Currently, there is no medication to treat dry AMD. To prevent occurrence of the condition, doctors recommend a healthy, balanced diet and possibly intake of food supplements containing particular nutrients and vitamins. Since AMD does not cause pain, it is often only detected at an advanced stage. As a result, from the age of 50 you should have regular examinations by an ophthalmologist. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) What is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and how do you recognise it? DR is an eye-disease caused by diabetes (type 1 and 2) and characterised by damage of the vessel (non-proliferative retinopathy) and by the growth of abnormal vessels in the retina and vitreous (proliferative retinopathy). These vessels have fragile vascular walls which results in bleeding. Blood leaking into the vitreous cause a sudden and drastic deterioration of vision and can progress to total loss of sight. Among diabetics, the risk of developing this disease of the retina is very high. For a patient with diabetes mellitus for twenty years, the risk is approximately 90 %. As a specific form of DR, Diabetic Maculopathy occurs when the provides clear vision is damaged. This leads to a progressive loss of visual acuity resulting in the inability to read and to drive a car. Inadequate blood supply can damage the macula during early stages of the disease. Maculopathy is the most frequent cause of severe loss of eyesight and can occur at any stage of the disease. The eye Choroid Conjunctiva Dry AMD develops slowly and presents as increasing loss of vision. This can change into the wet form of AMD which can lead to blindness. Cornea Light Optic nerve Lens Iris Vitreous Retina «Two years ago I nearly had to hand in my driving licence due to my AMD. I am still allowed to drive because I take Ocufolin» Prof. em. Hans Dutler, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich Macula (yellow spot) with macular pigments Lutein and Zeaxanthin

3 Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) What is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD) and how do you recognise it? AMD is a major cause of severe visual impairment and can occur as early as age 50. It affects the eye and is the result of damage to the provides clear vision. Those affected notice a central blurred spot and visual distortion e.g. straight lines suddenly appear bent or wavy. There are two forms of AMD 2. Wet AMD This less common form of macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels with fragile walls grow into the retina. Liquid and blood leak from these abnormal vessels leading to a generally rapid deterioration in vision. Patients see their environment, for example faces, as blurred and distorted. Straight lines are bent, numbers and letters look like strange symbols. When reading, patients often do not see individual letters or words. Wet AMD is treated with modern medication including injections directly into the vitreous body of the eye, carried out at intervals of several weeks. These quickly stop development of the condition and generally lead to an improvement in the impaired vision. 1. Dry AMD The more common form of AMD affects 85 % of patients. Small deposits, so-called drusen, appear on the retina and can be identified on the back of the eye by an ophthalmologist examining through the dilated pupil. In its early stages, the condition generally goes unnoticed by the patient. It develops slowly and, over the course of years, leads to a reduction in the function of photoreceptors which the patient notices as an increasing deterioration of their vision. Currently, there is no medication to treat dry AMD. To prevent occurrence of the condition, doctors recommend a healthy, balanced diet and possibly intake of food supplements containing particular nutrients and vitamins. Since AMD does not cause pain, it is often only detected at an advanced stage. As a result, from the age of 50 you should have regular examinations by an ophthalmologist. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) What is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and how do you recognise it? DR is an eye-disease caused by diabetes (type 1 and 2) and characterised by damage of the vessel (non-proliferative retinopathy) and by the growth of abnormal vessels in the retina and vitreous (proliferative retinopathy). These vessels have fragile vascular walls which results in bleeding. Blood leaking into the vitreous cause a sudden and drastic deterioration of vision and can progress to total loss of sight. Among diabetics, the risk of developing this disease of the retina is very high. For a patient with diabetes mellitus for twenty years, the risk is approximately 90 %. As a specific form of DR, Diabetic Maculopathy occurs when the provides clear vision is damaged. This leads to a progressive loss of visual acuity resulting in the inability to read and to drive a car. Inadequate blood supply can damage the macula during early stages of the disease. Maculopathy is the most frequent cause of severe loss of eyesight and can occur at any stage of the disease. The eye Choroid Conjunctiva Dry AMD develops slowly and presents as increasing loss of vision. This can change into the wet form of AMD which can lead to blindness. Cornea Light Optic nerve Lens Iris Vitreous Retina «Two years ago I nearly had to hand in my driving licence due to my AMD. I am still allowed to drive because I take Ocufolin» Prof. em. Hans Dutler, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich Macula (yellow spot) with macular pigments Lutein and Zeaxanthin

4 Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) What is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD) and how do you recognise it? AMD is a major cause of severe visual impairment and can occur as early as age 50. It affects the eye and is the result of damage to the provides clear vision. Those affected notice a central blurred spot and visual distortion e.g. straight lines suddenly appear bent or wavy. There are two forms of AMD 2. Wet AMD This less common form of macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels with fragile walls grow into the retina. Liquid and blood leak from these abnormal vessels leading to a generally rapid deterioration in vision. Patients see their environment, for example faces, as blurred and distorted. Straight lines are bent, numbers and letters look like strange symbols. When reading, patients often do not see individual letters or words. Wet AMD is treated with modern medication including injections directly into the vitreous body of the eye, carried out at intervals of several weeks. These quickly stop development of the condition and generally lead to an improvement in the impaired vision. 1. Dry AMD The more common form of AMD affects 85 % of patients. Small deposits, so-called drusen, appear on the retina and can be identified on the back of the eye by an ophthalmologist examining through the dilated pupil. In its early stages, the condition generally goes unnoticed by the patient. It develops slowly and, over the course of years, leads to a reduction in the function of photoreceptors which the patient notices as an increasing deterioration of their vision. Currently, there is no medication to treat dry AMD. To prevent occurrence of the condition, doctors recommend a healthy, balanced diet and possibly intake of food supplements containing particular nutrients and vitamins. Since AMD does not cause pain, it is often only detected at an advanced stage. As a result, from the age of 50 you should have regular examinations by an ophthalmologist. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) What is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and how do you recognise it? DR is an eye-disease caused by diabetes (type 1 and 2) and characterised by damage of the vessel (non-proliferative retinopathy) and by the growth of abnormal vessels in the retina and vitreous (proliferative retinopathy). These vessels have fragile vascular walls which results in bleeding. Blood leaking into the vitreous cause a sudden and drastic deterioration of vision and can progress to total loss of sight. Among diabetics, the risk of developing this disease of the retina is very high. For a patient with diabetes mellitus for twenty years, the risk is approximately 90 %. As a specific form of DR, Diabetic Maculopathy occurs when the provides clear vision is damaged. This leads to a progressive loss of visual acuity resulting in the inability to read and to drive a car. Inadequate blood supply can damage the macula during early stages of the disease. Maculopathy is the most frequent cause of severe loss of eyesight and can occur at any stage of the disease. The eye Choroid Conjunctiva Dry AMD develops slowly and presents as increasing loss of vision. This can change into the wet form of AMD which can lead to blindness. Cornea Light Optic nerve Lens Iris Vitreous Retina «Two years ago I nearly had to hand in my driving licence due to my AMD. I am still allowed to drive because I take Ocufolin» Prof. em. Hans Dutler, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich Macula (yellow spot) with macular pigments Lutein and Zeaxanthin

5 What are the known risk factors for developing AMD? Smoking Exposure to strong sunlight Age Family history Eye-colour: blue eyes High blood pressure Unbalanced diet and Gender: female overweight / obesity Elevated level of homocysteine How can you diminish the risk of deficiency? Extensive long-term studies with thousands of patients in the USA (AREDS 1&2) evidenced the positive effect of minerals such as zinc and copper, vitamins C and E as well as Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Additionally, the benefits of B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12) and Vitamin D were also established in large-scale studies. Based on recent findings, Ocufolin, taken alongside a balanced diet, supplies the retina with exactly the right nutrients required to counter so-called oxidative processes and supports the management of homocysteine levels. Zinc and riboflavin contribute to retaining good eyesight. Ocufolin forte Composition of Ocufolin Ingredient Per capsule Calcium L-Methylfolat (Metafolin ) 900 µg Zink (zinc acetate) 25 mg Kupfer (cupric gluconate) mg Vitamin C (calcium-l-ascorbate) 45 mg Vitamin E (D-α-Tocopherol) 5 mg Lutein 10 mg Zeaxanthin 2 mg Vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 1.5 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 10 mg Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal-5 -phosphat) 3 mg Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) 500 μg Pantothenic acid (calcium-d-pantothenate) 5 mg Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 37.5 µg Selenium (L-selenomethionin) 20 µg N-Acetyl-L-cystein 180 mg

6 Ocufolin forte Ocufolin is a dietary supplement developed and successfully recommended by American ophthalmologist for several years. Ocufolin is currently the only ocular dietary supplement containing L-Methylfolate calcium, in addition to the ingredients tested in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS). L-Methylfolate is the active, bioavailable form of folic acid which helps to reduce dangerous levels of homocysteine. This new supplement provides the retina with active folate to reduce or reverse deficiencies resulting from genetic or dietary causes. Individuals with eye diseases such as AMD and DR, are deficient in certain nutrients despite a healthy diet. Ocufolin delivers these particular nutrients to eliminate the deficiency. Recommended dosage Unless your doctor advises otherwise, take 1 capsule per day, with food, preferably in the morning. Ocufolin is a dietary supplement. Daily, longterm use is recommended to address deficiencies and prevent the possible worsening of vision impairment. Side-effects: No known side-effects, suitable for diabetics. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: No scientific evidence available at present. Manufactured in Switzerland. Packed in blisters with 90 capsules. Further information is available on the following websites Alternatively, contact us at: Aprofol AG Brülisauerstrasse Appenzell Switzerland T info@aprofol.com

Age-Related. macular degeneration.

Age-Related. macular degeneration. Age-Related Macular Degeneration This pamphlet is designed to help people with age-related macular degeneration and their families better understand the disease. It describes the causes, symptoms, diagnosis,