Stargardt’s Disease

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Preserving the ability to read and recognize faces is the primary goal for patients living with Stargardt’s Disease. Dr. Alexandra Robertson utilizes high-power optics and specialized prisms to maximize the remaining vision for those navigating this genetic condition.

Living with juvenile macular degeneration requires a shift in how a patient interacts with light. Stargardt’s disease typically results in a loss of central detail due to the accumulation of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium. Our clinic offers microscope eyeglasses and E-Scoop lenses to address these visual gaps. These tools allow students and professionals in the coastal region to continue their work by magnifying text and enhancing image contrast.

The transition from frustration to clarity often begins with the realization that specific wavelengths of light can be manipulated to bypass damaged areas of the eye.

The Application of Prismatic Technology

Effective rehabilitation relies on the expert application of Prentice’s Rule to shift the visual image onto healthy parts of the retina. We utilize base-up prism technology found in E-Scoop lenses to expand the functional field of view. This collaboration between specialized hardware and neural adaptation allows the brain to process images more efficiently. By reducing glare and increasing the size of the retinal image, we help patients maintain their lifestyle near Wrightsville Beach.

Common Questions About Stargardt’s Aids

  • Can these specialized glasses stop the progression of the disease? While low vision aids do not cure the underlying genetic condition, they significantly improve the quality of life. They allow you to use your existing vision more effectively for tasks like reading, cooking, or using a computer.
  • Are these devices covered by insurance or the VA? Many of our patients, including Patricia C. and Charles J., have successfully navigated the VA Community Care process to receive these specialized services. Our staff assists with coordinating benefits to ensure you receive the care you need.

Schedule Your Stargardt’s Consultation in Wilmington

Empower yourself with the latest in low vision technology. Visit the Paul Vision Institute to explore our full range of diagnostic and rehabilitative tools.

Slowing Macular Degeneration with Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy

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Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, particularly the “dry” form, in which cellular debris (drusen) accumulates under the retina. Until recently, treatments for dry AMD were limited to nutritional supplements. Today, Paul Vision Institute offers Photobiomodulation (PBM) using the Valeda® Light Delivery System. This FDA-cleared technology uses specific wavelengths of light to improve cellular function and slow disease progression for our North Carolina seniors.

Photobiomodulation works at the mitochondrial level. The Valeda system delivers low-level red, yellow, and near-infrared light to the retinal cells. These wavelengths are absorbed by an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase, which triggers an increase in energy production (ATP) and reduces oxidative stress. By revitalizing these “stressed” cells, PBM helps the retina process waste more efficiently, potentially reducing the accumulation of drusen and preserving the central vision required for reading and driving.

This treatment is non-invasive and does not require injections. Each session takes less than 5 minutes per eye, and a full course typically involves 9 treatments over 3 weeks. For our patients in Wilmington and the surrounding coastal communities, PBM represents a proactive, high-tech way to guard against the vision loss that once seemed inevitable with dry AMD.

FAQ: Understanding PBM for AMD

  • Is this a cure for AMD? While not a cure, clinical trials have shown that PBM can improve vision scores and slow disease progression in many patients.
  • Does it hurt? No. The treatment involves looking at a series of flickering lights. It is completely painless and requires no recovery time.
  • How do I know if I’m a candidate? PBM is most effective for patients with early-to-intermediate “dry” macular degeneration. We perform a thorough retinal scan to determine if you are a fit.
  • Is it safe? Yes, PBM has a high safety profile and does not cause the thermal damage associated with surgical lasers.

Benefits of Photobiomodulation for Macular Degeneration

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More than 21 million Americans experience age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and up to now, treatment options have been limited to slowing the progression of the disease and helping patients adapt to the loss of central vision that comes with it. Here at Paul Vision Institute, our Wilmington, NC eye doctors are excited to offer our patients photobiomodulation treatment for macular degeneration.

What is Photobiomodulation for Macular Degeneration?

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive type of red-to-infrared light therapy applied over a series of sessions over a period of 3 to 5 weeks. Our eye doctors in Wilmington, NC, have found PBM helpful for treating dry macular degeneration, particularly for patients with early stages of the disease. The benefits of photobiomodulation for AMD include:

1. Slow-Down in Disease Progression

Studies have shown that patients undergoing photobiomodulation for dry AMD were able to significantly slow and break down drusen deposit buildup that impairs vision. PBM was also shown to reduce inflammation and swelling of the eye tissues.

2. Inhibits Geographic Atrophy

As macular degeneration progresses, areas of cells on the retina shrink and die off, causing blind spots. PBM has been shown to slow and prevent cell wasting. In fact, it seems to boost the cells’ mitochondrial functions so they work better.

3. Visual Acuity Improvement

Until now, most macular degeneration treatments have been able to stall or slow vision loss. With photobiomodulation treatment, however, patients are actually experiencing improvements in visual acuity. On average, PBM patients can read an extra line on eye chart tests after completing one to two years of treatment!

Visit the Eye Doctors Wilmington Trusts for Macular Degeneration Treatment

If you are experiencing any vision problems, please schedule an appointment with us here at Paul Vision Institute. We look forward to providing you with the most caring, advanced vision care available today.

How We Diagnose and Treat Macular Degeneration

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Macular degeneration in Wilmington NC is a potentially serious eye disease that affects people as they age. Although macular degeneration typically doesn’t cause complete vision loss, you may lose some or all of your central vision. While there is no cure for this age-related eye condition, you can receive effective treatments for it.

Wet Macular Degeneration

With this type, the blood vessels in your macula and retina leak fluid and blood, and your eyes take on a bulging appearance. Wet macular degeneration affects only 10 percent of people diagnosed with the disease. However, this type is the more severe of the two because it can cause complete loss of central vision when left untreated. We urge you to schedule an exam at Paul Vision Institute right away if you notice dark spots in the center of your visual field.

Dry Macular Degeneration

The dry type of macular degeneration causes a buildup of yellow protein deposits in your macula called drusen. The drusen causes your eyes to feel very dry while thinning your macula at the same time. Loss of central vision occurs slowly over time. Some people with the dry type of macular degeneration develop the wet type after several years.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Macular Degeneration

We start the eye exam by dilating your eyes to check for signs of the disease. Your optometrist may also use one or more advanced tests to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. Once we know which type you have, the next step is to start using prescription medication. Nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes are also useful, as is photocoagulation if you have leaking blood vessels. We may also recommend specific low vision tools to increase your quality of life.

Your vision is too important to ignore. Please contact us to screen for macular degeneration in Wilmington NC if you have any concerns.

What is Macular Degeneration?  

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One of the leading causes of vision loss around the world is macular degeneration. Approximately 11 million Americans today suffer from macular degeneration, but by 2050, that figure is anticipated to rise to more than 22 million. Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is the most common cause of visual loss in persons 60 years of age and older. See your ophthalmologist in Wilmington, NC to be screened for macular degeneration.

What is the Macula?

Macular degeneration refers to the degeneration of a part of the eye called the macula. The macula cannot be seen from the outside. It’s located at the back of the eye and is regarded as a component of the retina. The macula’s primary role is central vision. It is also responsible for most of our ability to detect color.

Risk Factors For Macular Degeneration

There are risk factors that make macular degeneration more likely. These are:

  • General Poor Health
  • Being Overweight
  • Smoking
  • Genetic History of Macular Degeneration
  • Alcohol Abuse

Different Types of Macular Degeneration

Wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration are the two primary manifestations of macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration is often considered to be the late stage of dry macular degeneration. At this late stage, the progressive loss of vision is significantly accelerated.

There are three stages of dry macular degeneration: early, middle, and late. If dry macular degeneration is not identified and treated right away, it might progress and become wet macular degeneration.

Diagnosing Macular Degeneration

An ordinary eye exam is one of the main methods for diagnosing AMD. With the aid of prescription eye drops, your eye doctor will enlarge the pupils. This enables a better field of vision inside the eye. Your eye doctor will look for telltale symptoms of tiny, yellow deposits beneath the retina known as drusen as well as other signs of macular degeneration.

Your eye doctor has several other tools and tests available to determine the level of macular degeneration, as well.

Macular degeneration steals vision. The earlier it is diagnosed, the better the outcome. If you are experiencing signs of vision loss, or are concerned about the possibility of macular degeneration in Wilmington, NC, contact Paul Vision Institute.

 

Macular Degeneration Treatment Options

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Macular Degeneration

Treatment Options:

Nutrition, Low Vision

Services and Supplements

Find out about macular degeneration treatment options by Dr. Edward Paul. Dr. Paul takes on an integrative approach using traditional and complementary modalities. Learn what he has to say about nutrition, low vision services and supplements.
Dr. Edward Paul is a low vision specialist with a Ph.D. in nutrition. One of Dr. Paul’s specialties is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). He graduated from Southern College of Optometry and also holds a Ph.D. in nutritional medicine. His interest in nutrition and eye disease lead to the development of TOZAL, an AREDS2 based supplement for the treatment and prevention of AMD.
He has served as professor of ophthalmology at three international medical schools and was chosen as one of “America’s Top Optometrists” by the Consumer’s Research Council.
He is a Diplomate of the International Academy of LowVision Specialists and the author of several books, including Prevent and Reverse Eye Disease.

Macular Degeneration Book

1. Your book Prevent & Reverse Eye Disease is an ebook on Kindle. Whatprompted you to write it and what is the main message you want readers with macular degeneration to understand?

The majority of eye doctors are not educating their patients on alternative or complimentary medical treatments when it comes to age related macular degeneration (AMD).

My practice philosophy is one that is “integrative” – which means including traditional therapies (for example – injections for patients with “wet” AMD), but also looking at emerging therapies that show promise. The main message I hope patients get from the book is there is hope! Going blind is not their only option. To get your e-book visit Amazon here:

Prevent & Reverse Eye Disease

Macular Degeneration and Nutrition

3. Why do you say that nutritional therapy should be included in every patient’s macular degeneration treatment plan?

Nutritional therapy is the only treatment that has been shown to be effective in the “dry” form of AMD. New evidence now suggests that patients at riskfor AMD may actually be able to prevent the disease with nutritional supplementation.

One example of this is that Vitamin D and B complex have shown to reduce the incidence of AMDin women. Omega-3 fatty acids have been effective in reducing the conversion from dry to wet AMD and emerging research is showing that patients who receive injections for wet AMD may benefit from omega-3 in that the injections seem to be more efficacious and fewer injections are needed. Nutritional therapy is inexpensive, safe, and continues to show a tremendous benefit to the AMD community.

4. What are RDA levels? What do they mean and how should one interpret these numbers. Give us an example of perhaps Vitamin C.

RDA, or known by its full name – Recommended Daily Allowance – is being revised and will be called the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) and is a collaborative effort between the USA and Canada. RDA is the daily intake level of a nutrient that is considered to be sufficient to meet the requirements of 97–98% of “healthy” individuals.

With Vitamin C, the RDA for adult men is 90 mg and for adult women 75 mg. That being said, the amount of Vitamin C found to be effective in the AREDS study was 500 mg. With nutritional formulations for eye disease, AMD in particular, the RDA levels found in most multi-vitamins is simply not enough to be effective therapeutically.

Macular Degeneration Treatment – Lutein Dosage

5. You write about the importance of lutein. What is lutein and what role does it play in macular health?

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that filter harmful high-energy blue wavelengths of light and act as antioxidants in the eye, helping protect and maintain healthy cells.

Of the 600 carotenoids found in nature, only two are deposited in high quantities in the retina (macula) of the eye: lutein and zeaxanthin. The quantity of lutein and zeaxanthin in the macular region of the retina canbe measured as macular pigment optical density (MPOD).

Recently, MPOD has become a useful biomarker for not only predicting disease but also visual function. Unfortunately, the human body does not synthesize the lutein and zeaxanthin it needs, which is the reason why green vegetables are essential to good nutrition. Daily intake of lutein and zeaxanthin through diet, nutritional supplements, or fortified foods and beverages is important for the maintenance of good eye health. I recommend at least 15 mg of Lutein and 3 mg of Zeaxanthin daily.

Vitamins for Eyes

6. What are your suggestions for supplements for those with macular degeneration and for those wanting to prevent macular degeneration?

I recommend supplements that contain the original AREDS formulation in combination with 15 mg of
Lutein, 3 mg of Zeaxanthin, and at least 600 mg EPA/DHA – Omega-3 fatty acids.

7. What treatments do you use in your practice that have shown some success in reversing macular degeneration?

I use an eye vitamin that I developed – TOZAL Complete Eye Health Formula – for my patients with AMD. This supplement has been shown to either improve or stabilize vision in 76% of patients within 6 months. We have also been able to photo document a decrease in the number of drusen and an improvement in the overall appearance in their OCT. Tozal is available at https://shopfocuslabs.com/product/tozal-complete-eye-health-formula-90-ct/

Low Vision Specialist

8. You also provide low vision exams in your practice. How is that exam different from a regular eye exam?

It is not anything like a regular eye exam. The Low Vision evaluation consists of three steps:

1. Find out the amount of vision the patient has.

2. Find out the amount of vision needed to do the task desired.

3. Figure out the best magnification device that allows the person to do the task.

We find out the amount of vision the patient has by performing a low vision evaluation. We use special charts and techniques to “draw out” any residual vision that may be “hiding” in the periphery. We recheck the regular eyeglass prescription to improve it if possible.

We see how magnification affects the level of vision. Next we find out the amount of vision needed to do the task desired with very specific questions and demonstrations.

We ask the patient to bring samples of print they want to see (racing charts, stock market pages, automobile repair manuals…). We ask the patient to bring samples of activities they do (needlework, crossword puzzles art work, bridge cards…).

We figure out the best magnification device that allows the person to do their desired task and we actually demonstrate the vision improvement the patient can expect in the office. There is no guesswork and the patient can actually experience the vision improvement they can expect during the low vision consultation.

9. Give us an example of one of the more helpful low vision devices that is only available through a low vision center?

The newest addition to our low vision war chest is Acesight, electronic glasses that help visually impaired people regain independence. Acesight auto-focuses on the image the patient wants to see so that an individual can watch TV, use a computer, play music or read mail.

The device is ideally suited to individuals with a visual acuity between 20/100 or 20/800 and who suffer from macular degeneration.

10. If someone is interested in making an appointment with you for a second opinion for their macular degeneration what is the best way to contact you?

We welcome patients to call our at 910-256-6364. Patients can also visit our web site at www.DrEdward-Paul.com