Can diet improve eye diagnosis?

Shirley O. Bell · Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 1

At 71 years old, I have worn glasses full time some 30 to 35 years. In June 1997, I was diagnosed with a dry kind of macular degeneration (MD). A fluorescein angiography determined that my MD was worse in my left eye than in my right, but bad in both. I would never go fully blind but lose my central vision, but even partial blindness did not appeal to me. I began searching magazines, books, and the Internet to find a way to stabilize the MD. I began taking extra zinc and vitamins A and C. I ate antioxidant blueberries every day and drank vitamin A-rich carrot juice often, and tried to eat healthfully by avoiding processed and junk foods. During a visit to the ophthalmologist in January 1998, I was told that nothing had changed. I continued my regimen of blueberries, carrot juice, and supplements and revisited the retina specialist in January 1999. My MD had stabilized. By April 2000, the MD had improved. By July 2001, my right eye had improved a little and I needed to return to the specialist only when the optometrist deemed it necessary. In April 2003, the MD had gone from my right eye and only a little remained in my left eye. Others I know who were diagnosed with MD are continuing to lose vision. Was I misdiagnosed? Or was my diet of blueberries and carrot juice the answer?