Eyes

[Enfys]

Today I went back to the optician for another test on my eyes after my routine examination last week. The optician. Oticed some anomaly at the back of my eyes and wanted to check them out, They have recently added all singing all dancing machines that can see far more than before, It was very easy and painless and didn’t take long, then he showed me the results. It appears that I have what might be the start of macular degeneration but he thinks it is slow developing and isn’t too worried at the moment as it is very early stages. So it will be monitored with regular tests unless I notice anything unusual with my sight. He did give me advice on diet so I am going to up my intake of green leafy veg and fruit, especially blueberries. I’m glad I had it done, at least anything now can be found early. Very interesting to look at all the pictures he took of my eyes, and to understand a bit more about the condition. So if anyone gets the chance to have this examination do have it.

[Daisy]

Enfys - thank goodness this has been picked up so early and is being monitored. OH's AMD was spotted at a routine eye test, and he's receiving treatment. The consultant advised the same about diet and I remember Gem saying her auntie who has it eats lots of black grapes.

A friend of ours who also has AMD swears by Healthspan "OptiVision" capsules and tablets, and OH takes those too. He asked the consultant first and he was a little bit non-committal as they're not available on the NHS (too expensive) but he didn't say don't take them.

[Enfys]

I asked about that too Daisy. He neither agreed or disagreed, just stressed about the fruit and veg. I might try them we already get our omega 3 from Healthspan so I’ll have a look.

[Daisy]

I suppose they're not allowed to recommend anything that hasn't been approved by NICE, and NICE aren't going to recommend supplements like that because of the cost.

[Oma]

Enfys I'm always fascinated by the X rays of my eyes when I go to Diabetic clinic , it's weird seeing your eyeballs like that and the back of your eye isn't it 😊
One of my Dr's has a alternative medicine practice separate to our Practice , He recommended tablets for B to ease the pain of the shingles but when we took them to the Hospital they wouldn't let him take them because they said as they didn't know what was in them it could effect his treatment so best be safe than sorry .

[Nanto2girls]

Enfys, good it has been found early.
It's marvellous what they can do now at the opticions.

[Qwerty]

Sort of good news Enfys it’s seems strange to me that certain foods can affect eyes 👀 you will be super healthy in no time lady

[Gemini]

Smoking affects it too I believe, I presume that's why my mum's is so much worse than my aunties's. Auntie has both types, the wet and the dry, and goes for injections for one type.

[Daisy]

Gem, yes, smoking does affect the eyes, as it does everything else. My OH gave up smoking about 13 years ago, but his youngest brother has just been diagnosed with circulation problems in his legs and been told he absolutely must give up. Not easy after a lifetime of nicotine.

Qwerty - I suppose it's like having enough vit C in your diet for fighting off colds etc, or vit D to replace the sun we don't get in the winter.

Oma - it's a pity all branches of medicine can't get together and decide what really is good for you, whether mainstream or alternative. Your 'alternative' doctor is medically qualified so I would have thought he looked at things from both points of view, but I suppose the NHS practitioners have to follow the guidelines.

My OH had has 3 lots of injections in his eye so far. The problem was quite slight and he hasn't noticed any difference so far, but at least it's not worse. He's due to see the consultant next week, so we'll know more then.

[Plantaholic]

I eat quite a lot of blueberries, they are good for you, in what way do they affect the eyes. I would hate to have to give them up. I am not allowed too many green veg. as I take warfarin.

[Gemini]

Blueberries would be good for your eyes Plant, I think they are very good generally, so no need to give them up

[Mimi]

Enfys its good that its been picked up early and you will be able to get the right treatment and advice for managing it.
Dad had this and although he was a non smoker his intake of fresh fruit and veg left all lot to be desired . Sweet tea , cakes and salt on everything was the main things in his diet be as he lived to be 91 who could say he was wrong with his choices, We get lots of advice as to what we should or shouldn't eat but I think its all down to common. sense . There are so many different types of fresh fruit and veg out there and I believe if you have a good varied diet you can't go wrong.

[Plantaholic]

Thanks Gemini, I misread the information from Enfys, so pleased I don't have to give them up.

[Enfys]

Plant, my optician recommended blueberries. He said he and his wife have them every day. I am going to buy a big punnet tomorrow,

[Daisy]

We've been eating blueberries for a while (long before OH's eye diagnosis) because we love them on cereal, plus snacking on them. I don't always want much breakfast and then I have a couple of dollops of plain yoghurt and a handful of blueberries.

I have tried growing blueberry bushes. They did quite well, and I was just starting to pick ripe ones then one morning, they'd ALL gone! There were some very fat and contented blackbirds sitting on the fence laughing at me!! I suppose I should have netted the bushes, but I hate using nets in case a bird gets trapped in them.