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In January 2006, Dr. Malkemus began writing dental health articles for The Community
Voice newspaper. He wanted to give back to the community and share his passion for
health, as well as his observations of the remarkable planet around us. Current
and past articles are provided here. To view his articles as they appear, see the
Health, Beauty, and Fitness Section at www.thecommunityvoice.com.
Other Resources
Macular Degeneration
Jane Seymour’s Crusade Against Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration [AMD] affects more than 15 million Americans and is the top cause of major vision loss in the U.S. AMD usually progresses slowly and because it often takes years for vision to be noticeably impaired, many people don’t realize they have the disorder until the damage has already been done. The disorder rarely causes complete blindness, but AMD can rob people of the healthy central vision they need for such daily tasks as driving and reading.
AMD affects the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye called the macula. As healthy cells in the macula dwindle, patients see a dark smudge at the center of vision. That affected central smudge area broadens and deepens over time. While most cases of AMD worsen slowly over time, one type called “wet” AMD can cause severe sight loss in a few months.
Jane Seymour’s Campaign: “Don’t Lose Sight”
I recently sent out Healthy Smile magazines to all my patents which featured Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Jane Seymour’s crusade to help adults, ages 40 to 69, fend off the vision-harming effects of age-related macular degeneration [AMD]. Her campaign is called “Don’t lose Sight”. It is meant to persuade older Americans to get eye checkups each year. It is sponsored by the nonprofit Prevent Blindness America [www.preventblindness.org].
In 1973, Jane Seymour played the sultry tarot card reader Solitaire in the James Bond thriller, Live and Let Die. Twenty years later, she had a big television hit as a gutsy frontier doctor on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
The British-born actress decided to lead the crusade against AMD after watching her beloved mother, Meike slowly lose her eyesight to the disorder. “My mother was first diagnosed with AMD 20 years ago and she gradually lost most of her vision as a result.” “As my mother’s eyesight deteriorated, she could no longer recognize the faces of her friends, and she couldn’t even read without using a special magnifying glass. That was quite painful for her. And it showed me the vital importance for older people of learning about the condition – so that they can minimize its effects through early detection and nutritional supplements, wherever appropriate.”
To learn more about the dire impact of AMD, Jane Seymour took part in a “Day Without Sight.” She wore a special pair of glasses that mimicked AMD’s sight-damaging effects. “I struggled all day long,” she recalls. “It was almost impossible to read anything. And I really saw the impact of AMD when I failed to recognize a close friend’s face, even while standing only a few feet away.” “That experience made me realize just how devastating AMD can be. But my bottom-line message is actually quite hopeful. I want to let older adults everywhere know that timely diagnosis and treatment can significantly postpone the effects of AMD, which will often protect their precious vision for many years into older age.”
“Although there’s no cure for AMD, I’m greatly encouraged about recent advances that will help to curb its effects,” Seymour says. “For all of us, the key to reducing the impact of this potentially devastating disorder is quite simple: early detection and appropriate treatment by your family eye care doctor.”
Treatment Options and Risk Factors
Treatment options vary depending on the type of AMD. Lasers can be used to seal or stop the growth of leaky or abnormal blood vessels that cause “wet” AMD. Those treatments don’t work with the more common but less serious “dry’ AMD, which is caused by a buildup of waste products.
Some studies show AMD patients can slow vision loss by including lots of antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E, in their diets or through supplements. Studies also show that raising the intake of lutein and omega-3 fatty acids may slow the advancement of AMD in many patients. Lutein is found in green, leafy vegetables. Omega-3s are found in cold-water fish.
Risk factors for AMD include a family history of the disorder, advancing age, smoking and poor nutrition.
Like Jane Seymour’s mother Meike, my mother Annabelle also suffered from AMD. Her quality of life was greatly reduced the last fifteen years of her life. Throughout her life she had been an avid reader, television viewer and sight-reading pianist. All those joys were eliminated because of AMD. She died nearly totally blind in the spring of 2006. My mom is dearly missed.
It’s easy for older adults to put off eye exams if they feel fine and if they think they have no problems but macular degeneration is just one of the slowly advancing eye problems that can be improved with early detection. If you or an older family member hasn’t had an eye exam lately, call for one soon.
Enjoy Life and Keep Smiling!
George Malkemus has had a Family and Cosmetic Dental Practice in Rohnert Park for over 23 years at 2 Padre Parkway, Suite 200. Call 585-8595, or email info@ malkemusdds.com. Visit Dr. Malkemus’ Web site at http://www.malkemusdds.com
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