AMD diagnosed at the age of 36

I am currently a 44 year old female that was diagnosed around 8 years ago with AMD. My last appointment revealed that I had an "impressive amount of drusen" and it has gotten worse.

My grandmother had this disease very late in life. A specialist once told me I have a hereditary version of AMD however no-one in our family has the disease other than my grandmother. I also have a condition which is a result of low-estrogen. I can't help but wonder if there is a link.

I am getting to the depressed/frustrated state, but am hoping that this forum might help as it appears that there is a number of people under the age of 50 that have this condition.

I would eventually like to find someone that could do genetic testing or find a clinical trial study however it appears most of them are for 50+ years of age.

I only wish to be able to see my children marry and see my grandchildren. That is my one wish in life.

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AMD diagnosed at the age of 36

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Nov 02, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Reply to Diagnosed at 36
by: Mary (Iowa)

If you search the posts you will find "The Blessing of Herbal Tincture" which was posted this week. Please read it. I was diagnosed with drusen in the back of both eyes at the age of 30 and macular degeneration runs in my family. I am now 51 and my eyes are stabilized and I see perfectly fine. You don't have to simply accept what you think is your fate. Take control. Do eye washes, do bowel and liver cleanses, take supplements, improve your diet, etc. There is so much out there that one can do to take control of your own health. Our medical establishment is not educated in alternative health and therefore cannot help you. You must do it yourself or seek out a good alternative doctor. Our bodies can heal themselves.
Jan 16, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Reply to Diagnosed at 36 with AMD
by: Anonymous

I am very sorry to hear you have this problem with your eyes.

Although not in your situation, I am 58 and was diagnosed with early macular degeneration two years ago. Luckily, so far, it has not effected my sight.

When I read your post I immediately remembered something I had read in one of Dr Sandra Cabot's books. She is an Australian doctor, specialising in the liver. She believes, as with Traditional Chinese medicine, that the liver is responsible for the health of our whole body - it is 'the general army of the body'.

I quickly googled 'low estrogen and macular degeneration'.

Here is the link:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Candida-Night-Sweats---Problems-to-Cause-Estrogen-Loss&id=5439048

Although it mentions night sweats related to low estrogen, it also mentions macular degeneration and other diseases.

I have previously posted letters related to the liver on this site, as I believe the liver is a definite link to many of the diseases we now see in our society. I have read three of Dr Cabot's books so far. They are :

The Liver Cleansing Diet
Fatty Liver - You Can Reverse It
and

Can't Lose Weight - You Could Have Syndrome X

This site also recommends other books by this Doctor. I found these three books were excellent ones to gain understanding and start acting to try and save my health and sight.

I know how difficult it is to get real help from professionals, so we have to try and help ourselves. Holistic medicine has gained much respect.

I hope you read Dr Cabot's books and are able to make some changes that may help you. I have also found that drinking 2-3 litres of water daily stops the aching (and scratchy) feeling I used to get at the back of my eyes. This indicates to me that drinking the water is helping flush toxins from my system.

My eyesight has actually improved since using the liver cleaning diet principles, so I hope the same can happen for you. Good luck and keep us posted.

Regards...Barb
Jan 16, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Too Young for Age Related Macular Degeneration
by: Anonymous

Hi,

I was diagnosed with dry AMD when i was 38.

Told I had 10 years left to drive and read.

I am now 44. I have been told to prepare myself to give up driving anytime soon.

My last appointment with the eye consultant showed cysts at the back of my retina which she needs to do more tests to see if they have started leaking..so at the moment not looking good..

I just want to carry on as normal as possible.

Keep working which can be stressful at times and try and stay positive even though at times that can be very HARD!!!
May 28, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Scared!
by: Anonymous

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings about your diagnosis. I am 52 years old and was diagnosed with very early stage AMD this week. I had no idea that I might have this condition since I have regular eye exams.

I had an eye exam in Sept. 2009 which showed everything was fine (as far as I was told). Then, I went to a new doctor this week because I have dry eyes and wanted to see if there was a better way to deal with that.

I had no vision problems except I use reading glasses. My distance vision, night vision, etc., are all fine. I was shocked, stunned, whatever the word, when the doctor pointed out the problem on the computer screen.

I had only recently heard of AMD when an elderly neighbor had it, so I don't think there was any family history. Although I'm still in shock, I immediately started on the vitamin and supplement therapy and made sure I'm following the diet.

I don't know what to expect, except that everything I read seems to indicate that at some point I will lose most of my sight. It feels like a lingering death sentence because everything is fine right now, but there is this time bomb ticking out there that will go off at some point. I just feel that, like you, I am far too young to have this happen.

I guess I will be going through the stages of grief over and over again as I am reminded every day of what is pending. I don't expect much from the vitamin therapy and lifestyle changes, since I already have the early stage AMD, but will continue.

It would be interesting to know if anyone has had any real success with it and been able to slow or stall the progress, at least for another 25 years! Thanks for reading.
Apr 25, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Heriditary Version of AMD
by: Anonymous

Hi
I am a 57 year old female, who has been diagnosed with the early signs of AMD in the last year.

I have several small drusen in each eye.

I have seen several eye specialists, who have given me slightly different versions of the condition of my eyes.

The most recent was that my drusen are not typically consistent with either wet or dry AMD. This specialist felt I may have early signs of Best's disease, which is hereditary. Best's disease is usually associated with young children, but can, I believe, occur in older people.

Best's disease -(also known as vitelliform macular dystrophy) is an inherited form of macular degeneration characterized by a reduction of central vision.

Apparently,in some cases, Best disease does not progress far enough to cause significant central vision loss. I believe, although Best's disease is in the macular degeneration 'family' it can/may have a better prognosis.

I do not if it is of any help to you, but maybe that is what your specialist meant by the 'hereditary form of AMD'.

Maybe this will give you a lead to research, or look into, as I am doing myself.

Wishing you all the best.
Barbara
Apr 24, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Early Age AMD
by: Anonymous

Both of my parents had dry AMD but were not diagnosed until their 80's. I have it and was diagnosed at 56. Neither of my sisters have it yet.

I totally understand the frustrated/depressed feeling you have. I lost my last job because I could no longer see with clarity to do fine detail work.

I would also like to see if there is someway to do a genetic study prior to age 50.

I'd like my children to be tested and pray that they develop treatment for dry AMD.

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