Macula Health Dictionary

A progressive, painless disorder affecting the macula. The result is a roughly circular area of blindness that increases in size until it is large enough to obscure 2 or 3 words at reading distance. Macular degeneration does not cause total blindness as vision is retained around the edges of the visual fields. This condition is a common disorder in elderly people.

Of the 2 types of macular degeneration that may occur, one type is usually remedied by laser treatment.

There is no treatment for the other form, although the affected person may benefit from aids such as magnifying instruments.... macular degeneration

Linn.

Family: Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.

Habitat: North temperate regions.

English: Spotted Hemlock, Poison Hemlock.

Unani: Khardmaanaa, Shuk.

Action: Sedative, anodyne, antispasmodic. Used for relief in whooping cough, asthma; paralysis; epilepsy. Antidote to strichnine poisoning and other poisons of the same class. Highly toxic. Mother tincture of Hemlock is used in homoeopathy for prevention of immature cataract.

All parts of the plant contain alkaloids—highest in aerial parts (1.77%) and lowest in stems. Gamma-conice- ine is the principal alkaloid in the leaves, whereas N-methylconiine is the major alkaloid in mature fruits. Beside the alkaloids, a flavone glycoside, dios- min and chlorogenic acid have been reported in the leaves and inflorescence. Ripe seeds yield coumarins, bergapten and xanthotoxin. Experimentally, the plant exhibited teratogenic properties. (Rarely used today.)

Berries are toxic at 10 g, leaves at 30 g and coniine at 150 mg. (Francis Brinker.)... conium maculatum

Zinc and selenium, supported by doses of Vitamin E and amino acid taurine produced dramatic results in some cases; effect said to be due to antioxidant activity mopping up free radicals associated with degenerative diseases (Journal of Nutritional Medicine)

A preliminary therapeutic trial in patients with ageing macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy showed that supplementation with Beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium halted the progression of degenerative changes and in some cases even brought some improvement. (Age and Ageing 1991, 20(1) 60-9). Bilberries.

Referral to a consultant ophthalmologist. ... eyes  - macular degeneration

(AMD, ARMD) see macular degeneration.... age-related macular degeneration

swelling of the central area of the retina (macula), usually occurring as a result of trauma, posterior *uveitis, or ocular surgery.... cystoid macular oedema