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The
Gaffer 2008 Archive |
Macular Degeneration:
By Willie Gaffer:
As I said in my essay, “Bad Day” I find it is
time to do some serious research into the state of eye research, particularly
for macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is what I am stricken with. That
is an eye disease wherein the cones in the eye degenerate to the point where
the victims becomes legally blind. I do not like it at all, but I must face
reality. Sticking my head in the sand will not make it go away. In addition,
giving up is not an option for me. I am, by nature, a fighter. I don’t
mean a street fighter hanging with thugs. I mean a fighter against whatever
afflicts me, be it a criminal act against me, or some kind of natural problem
like arthritis and macular degeneration.
In this case, fighting means finding whatever tools and help
I can find to fight this affliction. In that fight, I have discovered two major
resources. The first one is The Foundation Fighting Blindness. They have a
website at http://www.blindness.org. I registered with then so I can have
access to all of their information. Sometime soon, I will send them a donation
of money to help support what they are doing. They sponsor research projects
and studies into the causes and possible cures of blindness.
The foundation lead me to another resource. That is a
government website at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. On that one, I hit the
jackpot. I found a list of the studies being conducted on macular degeneration.
It is a long list and I discovered it changes every day. Another difficulty is
they list all the worldwide studies everywhere. It is a bit of a chore to sort
through them, but I am determined. It is well worth my effort.
I am not too keen on getting into any invasive techniques
yet. I don’t feel my eyesight is so bad that I am willing to risk losing
it completely. Nevertheless, some of these are interesting and worth keeping
track of for future reference. There are studies where an electronic lens is
inserted into the retina. This gives limited sight to people who had no hope of
ever seeing again.
There is another study wherein stem cells or some other kind
of stimulant is injected directly into the eye. This sort of research holds a
lot of promise, but they, very properly, limit the recruiting to people who
eyes are so damaged they have very little hope. Thank Minerva I am not there
yet. I hope I never get there. I have it in good authority that a blind writer
would be seriously handicapped.
Try typing with your eyes closed sometime. My sister could
co it, which is why she was an executive secretary. She was a true touch typist
and did it so fast she cold take dictation directly. There are not many like
her around. I cannot even get it right when I am looking at the keyboard.
Fortunately, Microsoft Word, when it is set up right, catches most of my bad
errors. Ms. Gaffer finds the rest if I ask her to. Sometimes I get into too
much of a hurry to post a piece. I usually regret it later.
The kinds of studies, which attract me now, are noninvasive,
but aggressive drug therapies. Two types of testing in particular have caught
my attention. One is the tests, which are looking into different drug
combinations that seem to be somewhat effective in treating this affliction. I
am already taking one such supplement that is safe enough to be sold over the
counter. It is a combination of minerals and vitamins called AREDS. Bausch and
Lomb makes a version they call
Perservision. That is the one I am currently taking.
Now they are starting to test a supplement called AREDS2.
This is a different combination of the same or similar dietary supplements. The
National Eye Institute is doing one study on AREDS2. It is called a phase two
study, because AREDS has already been found to be safe. In a phase one study,
there is risk, by there is very little risk in a phase two study. I have looked
for a study testing this new combination and have yet to find one within my
traveling range. I’ll keep looking.
Another kind or drug therapy I am looking into is an eye
drop therapy with a drug called OT-551. There is one such test being conducted
by Othera Pharmaceuticals INC. The good thing about this one is they have a
study center in