Your macula is an area on the back of your eye made up of light-sensitive rods and cones, cells that send visual information to your optic nerve. Damage to these cells, called macular degeneration, will most likely result in vision changes that will affect your straight-ahead vision. Since damage is often permanent, some people may turn to supplements, such as L-carnitine, to see if they can prevent or reverse macular degeneration damage.
Types
Two different types of macular degeneration can affect your eyes. Dry macular degeneration, often considered early macular degeneration, results when the cells break down in the retina. You may notice blurry vision and the need for more light when you read or perform other tasks that require detailed or close vision. Wet macular degeneration typically appears suddenly. This type of the disease occurs when blood vessels grow abnormally under the macula, often in response to the cell damage of the macular tissue. These vessels break easily and can leak fluid under your macula, moving the tissue out of position. Symptoms will include sudden loss of central vision. You may notice that straight lines appear distorted or bent.
L-Carnitine
L-carnitine, also known simply as carnitine, is a nutrient that aids in turning fats into energy. This nutrient may help with certain health conditions, and this may result, in part, from the antioxidant components of L-carnitine. Some antioxidant nutrients have proven benefits in preventing macular degeneration, but L-carnitine in particular does not show any known evidence of helping your eyes.
Treatment
Treatments do not typically return vision loss due to macular degeneration. Your doctor may recommend treatment to prevent more extensive damage. These treatments may include laser treatments to destroy the leaky vessels. Other treatments include light therapy, a procedure designed to destroy new vessel growth, and medications that your doctor injects into your affected eye.
Considerations
Your body makes L-carnitine, but if you have a health condition that limits your production, you may need to take a supplement or increase your dietary intake. Food sources include lamb and other red meats, poultry, asparagus, avocados and peanut butter. If you have risk factors for macular degeneration, your doctor may recommend a variety of nutrients that may reduce your chances for this disease. These nutrients may include vitamins A, E and C, along with zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin.
