Macular Degeneration Treatment NYC by Marc Bystock L.Ac.

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the United States and affects over 10 million people. It occurs when the retina in the eye is damaged, leading to progressive vision loss over time. 

If you compare the human eye to a camera, the macula collects detailed central vision and forwards it to the brain via the optic nerve. When the macula tissue becomes inflamed and oxidized, images cannot be received appropriately. 

At the onset of the disease, there are often no symptoms. As the disease progresses, blurry vision may set in. Finally, during the late stages, the patient may completely lose their central vision. Peripheral vision can continue because the rest of the retina may remain intact. Peripheral vision is significantly less clear than central vision.

• Dry AMD - There are two basic types. Dry macular degeneration is most common. Almost 80% of people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. In dry macular degeneration, the macula can become very thin, and small protein clumps termed drusen will form. The patient ultimately loses central vision.

• Wet AMD - Wet macular degeneration is far less common and a much more severe condition than the dry type. Blood vessels grow under the retina. These blood vessels can no longer contain their fluids. As they leak, their fluids cause scarring of the macula. Vision loss is significantly faster with wet AMD than with dry AMD

Chances are you could be at higher risk and more likely to develop macular degeneration if you:

• Currently, have a high LDL or total cholesterol level
• Are obese
• Smoke tobacco
• Are over 55 years of age
• Have a genetic predisposition to macular degeneration
• Have a history of cardiovascular disease
  

• Blurry vision
• Decreased central vision
• Blind spots (scotomas)
• Distorted vision (Metamorphosia)
• Difficulty seeing in dim light
• Seeing objects as smaller in one eye
• Contrast sensitivity loss
• Difficulty discerning dark colors from light ones

Diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There are several methods your eye doctor can use to test for AMD. Drops may be placed into the eye to dilate it. Then a specialized instrument will be used to examine the back of the eye for drusen. Drusen are the yellow and white fatty deposits mentioned above. An Amsler grid can be used as part of the examination. Straight lines may appear wavy and distorted with macular degeneration.

Fluorescein angiography can be used. During this procedure, a colored dye is injected into the patient’s arm, and the physician examines the blood vessels in the eye for abnormalities and retinal changes. Indocyanine angiography may be used. In this procedure, a dye is injected directly into the eye to confirm the fluorescein test results and determine the type of macular degeneration.

Conventional Medical Treatments

• Dry type: There are no reported treatments for Age-Related Dry Macular degeneration.
• Wet type: Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
• Vascular endothelial growth factor supports new blood vessel growth.
• The blood vessels grow under the retina, leaking fluids and causing scarring.
• Anti-VEGF is injected into the eye to slow blood vessel growth.
  

In the 1980s, Micro-acupuncture was conceived in Denmark. Micro-acupuncture is a unique acupuncture procedure used to treat degenerative eye disorders.

The discovery of 48 new acupuncture points on the palmar surfaces of the hands and soles of the feet has not been reported in other acupuncture systems. These points may improve the vision of people who are suffering from Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Macular degeneration is a disorder of ocular oxidative stress, inflammation, and insufficient blood perfusion. Micro Acupuncture was initially experimented with to improve arthritic conditions, but patients reported seeing with brighter contrast and clearer vision after the acupuncture procedure.

It is thought that this acupuncture system may stimulate the visual cortex in the brain, sending signals to the optic nerve and retinal structure of the eye. This neuro-functional stimulation increases blood flow, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the starved tissue of the eye.

By combining this innovative 48-point acupuncture system with whole-food nutrition, bioelectric magnetic therapies, and specific stimulation techniques around the eyes, I can achieve the best results. Some patients report that the Holistic Acupuncture Vision program improves vision within days, while others require repeat treatments for longer durations. Treatment frequency will depend on the patient's condition, age, and the duration of their degenerative eye disorder.

The standard Holistic Acupuncture Vision protocol is to receive two treatments per day for one to two weeks. Other programs may be successfully implemented, depending on the frequency of treatments and the patient's individual needs.

Eye diseases should not necessarily be isolated to the eyes themselves. The eyes are part of the whole body that they are housed in. The health of the eye is dependent on the general condition and health of the entire body. To achieve optimal results, I address both the disease's underlying causes and its symptoms. My Holistic Acupuncture Vision program treats both the eyes and the body as a whole simultaneously.