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Understanding Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Prevention and Management*


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Posted
5 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

I have WET AMD so I am glad you did not say it was related to alcohol consumption, only smoking.

I sympathise with you, regarding the alcohol, but otherwise do not suffer from Macular Degeneration.

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Posted

This post caught my attention because of macular degeneration and the potential link to copper deficiency.

 

Macular degeneration began in my case nearly twenty years ago after being poisoned.  Of course this could be due to having then attained the age of 60.  However aging and poisoning (general weakening of immune system and digestive capacities) are, to my mind, linked.

 

Severe copper (and selenium) deficiencies were revealed by a recent spectroscopic analysis of my hair: which also showed excessive levels of aluminium and arsenic.  Despite my, occasionally, taking a copper supplent (and sometimes eating Brazil nuts).

 

A web-search for a link between copper deficiency and heavy metals has not produced much evidence.  So far only this, from a research paper:

 

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2024.1408159/full

 

"Many of these functions … are crucially dependent on copper including mitochondrial respiration, antioxidant defense, iron metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis and vascular function"

"Copper imbalance can act twofold, firstly in excess as a cell stressor that can induce cuproptosis …, and in deficiency in the loss of function of critical cuproenzymes that affect respiration and normal neuronal functioning."

"In this regard the most notable risk factors seem to be related with contamination of food or water sources with plant and algal toxins, and also HEAVY METALS …, all of which either enhance protein aggregation or interact with copper or cuproproteins in a detrimental manner."

"A recent review that included over 258 studies has identified ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), formaldehyde, mercury, manganese and zinc as key contributors to ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis] risk in descending order of association …. Other studies indicate herbicides and pesticides that include paraquat, permethrin and glyphosate as being associated risk factors."

 

Note that manganese and zinc are both essential for human health.  It is when they are regularly in excess that they depress copper levels.

 

Also perhaps pertinent to copper deficiency

 

https://www.buoyhealth.com/learn/copper-deficiency#symptoms

 

"Copper is integral to the body's processing of iron. Iron is necessary for red blood cell production. Thus, this can have widespread effects, such as:
Anemia: Low red blood cell counts that do not improve with iron supplementation.
Frequent infections: This is due to low white blood cell counts (neutropenia)."

 

In the recent past blood analysis has shown me deficient in both red and white blood cells.  But recently I was informed that my red blood cell count is normal. [Although I am sceptical of official "norms", which tend to be adjusted to reflect the most recent population averages, where overall health of western populations is declining]

 

Posted

I was diagnosed with DRY AMD 14yrs ago and although it has progressed some over that time it has not yet reached the WET stage and hope fully won't for a few more years.   With the onset of WET AMD one has to start having injections which can be quite expensive.   Expense wise one needs to check out different eye hospitals for comparisons.   I have three monthly tests done and the 4000bht cost is comparable to back home.   However when i compared the cost of the injections the prices differed considerably.   Eye hospitals in Bangkok were charging between 80,000/100,000 per injection, where as the Khon Kaen eye hospital which has a great reputation, where i go, charges 25,000bht per injection which again is on par with what it would cost me back home if i needed them.

So If you are diagnosed with AMD you need to check out first a good eye hospital with good service and second one where you are not going to be ripped off.   I used to go to the Buriram government hospital until the head Ophthalmologist was promoted to a bigger hospital and was replaced with a female who can speak English but refuses to and only speaks in Thai to my wife.  I did not take too kindly to this and told her to shove everything where the sun don't shine and started going to Khon Kaen where they speak good English and treatment is good.

I hope this helps some people somewhere along the line.

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Posted
2 hours ago, Donald Bright said:

However when i compared the cost of the injections the prices differed considerably.   Eye hospitals in Bangkok were charging between 80,000/100,000 per injection, where as the Khon Kaen eye hospital which has a great reputation, where i go, charges 25,000bht per injection which again is on par with what it would cost me back home if i needed them.

You need to search around for prices. I pay about 5000 baht per injection at Narsuan University hospital in Phitsanulok or in the public hospital in Phetchabun. That equates to a similar price in Australia after the Medicare rebate.

The injections might sound scary but they are very simple with minor irritation afterwards.

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Posted
5 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

You need to search around for prices. I pay about 5000 baht per injection at Narsuan University hospital in Phitsanulok

Superb hospital. I am there for eye check up later this month. Had several ops there. No problems and no rip-off.

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Posted
On 2/6/2025 at 6:08 PM, GreasyFingers said:

You need to search around for prices. I pay about 5000 baht per injection at Narsuan University hospital in Phitsanulok or in the public hospital in Phetchabun. That equates to a similar price in Australia after the Medicare rebate.

The injections might sound scary but they are very simple with minor irritation afterwards.

I am not yet to the stage of having injections but very interested in your price of 5000 baht per injection.

I am also from Aus and when i asked the price of injections from my eye specialist in Aus  i was quoted $1200-per injection with $1100- rebate from Medicare, so the cost is only $100-, but to get them for 5000baht here is a great price, so i will check it out.   Thank you.   Do you have a contact at Narsuan University that i can phone or email.

Posted
5 hours ago, Donald Bright said:

I am not yet to the stage of having injections but very interested in your price of 5000 baht per injection.

I am also from Aus and when i asked the price of injections from my eye specialist in Aus  i was quoted $1200-per injection with $1100- rebate from Medicare, so the cost is only $100-, but to get them for 5000baht here is a great price, so i will check it out.   Thank you.   Do you have a contact at Narsuan University that i can phone or email.

I have been treated by Dr Kanin who runs a sort of private after hours clinic at the hospital after 5.00pm, along with other doctors. They are usually very busy so you usually have to wait a couple of hours to see him.

The contact number is 085 555 2500 to go through the general registration to make an appointment. There is information on their web site but can be a bit tricky finding what you want in English.

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