The back lining of your eye contains the macula, an area of tissue that helps you see straight ahead. Damage to these cells can result in vision changes, a condition known as macular degeneration. In most cases, these vision changes will remain permanently, but your doctor may recommend treatment to slow the progression of the disease. If you have risks for macular degeneration, your doctor may recommend preventative measures, and, for some people, this may include herbal supplements.
Bilberry
Bilberry is a fruit-laden bush similar to the blueberry. Extract from the berries contain a number of components that many believe can offer health benefits. In macular degeneration prevention, the antioxidants in bilberry could slow down or prevent damage to the cells in the macular tissue. If you and your doctor discuss the benefits of bilberry and determine this supplement could help reduce your risk for macular degeneration damage, your doctor will tell you how much to take each day. Your doctor may not recommend bilberry if you have a blood disorder or take medications that thin your blood, since bilberry could cause an interaction in these situations.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba is an herbal supplement that comes from the leaves of the ginkgo tree. This supplement may also have antioxidant properties that will slow down or prevent the disease process of macular degeneration. Some small studies indicate that ginkgo biloba may help to improve vision in people with macular degeneration damage. Due to the small size of these studies, researchers cannot confirm from these findings that ginkgo will, in fact, restore some of the lost vision.
Flax Seed
The flax plant produces flax seed, a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids. You can use ground flax seed in recipes, or you can take flax seed oil as a supplement. In either case, the omega-3s in flax seed could help this eye disease. As of 2011, researchers were continuing to study the role of omega-3 in macular degeneration prevention. The study should conclude in December of 2012, and its preliminary findings on omega-3 and macular degeneration may begin to appear shortly thereafter.
Considerations
Always talk with your doctor before you begin a supplement or treatment regimen. You may have a health condition or take medications that could result in serious complications from supplement interactions. Your doctor also can tell you the correct dosage for a supplement and also can help to reduce the risk for any side effects associated with high doses of herbal supplements.
References
- National Eye Institute; Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration; September 2009
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Bilberry Fruit; August 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginkgo Biloba
- Evans JR. Ginkgo biloba extract for age-related macular degeneration. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 1999, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD001775. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001775
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Flaxseed
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2); January 2009
