  Macular
  Degeneration
  Recovery

CASE STUDY

HIGHLY UNUSUAL MACULAR RECOVERY

www.macular-degeneration-recovery.com

subsequent to treatment by MAHARISHI AYURVEDA

Case Introduction
This site seeks to calmly and responsibly set out the detailed clinical progression of my highly unusual recovery from macular degeneration subsequent to intervention from Maharishi Ayurveda, examine and discuss what might be reasonable to infer from the recovery which was contrary to all explicit and implicit clinical communication, and provide treatment background information and contact details for those who are interested in pursuing Ayurveda as a healing approach.

Post diagnosis,
(Left Eye)
no
explicit, implicit, written or
verbal communications from clinicians indicated any chance of improvement, thus . .

“the [fluorescein] angiogram did not show any problems that could be repaired or treated”

(July 04)

Indeed, I was actively encouraged to accept my vision loss from macular degeneration
as a
non-changeable, non-treatable
fait accompli.

home

Hi, my name is Ray Amsterdam, and this was my situation in 2004, when having lost nearly ALL central vision in my left eye, I was informed, like millions of others world-wide, “there is no treatment available to restore … vision”.

Well, subsequent to highly specialised residential treatment in the tradition of authentic Ayurveda in India, followed by a daily regime of herbs back in the UK - within 15 months I made a nearly FULL recovery in this eye, going from 20/200 to 20/20 (from 6/60 to 6/6). I can do everything now - read, write, work and drive, though it should be noted that my right eye recovery, while still atypical, is more moderate to date.

Subject details (Me)

NAME: Ray Amsterdam YEAR of birth: 1953 GENDER: Male
ETHNICITY: White Caucasian LOCATION: London, UK

Case Summary
LEFT EYE

Rapid deterioration of visual acuity from 6/9 to 6/60 (20/30 to 20/200) in Summer 04. All central vision lost. Diagnosed as untreatable (Myopic) Macular Degeneration without bleeding (thus the dry, atrophic form).

Subsequent to 3 weeks residential Ayurvedic treatment at Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital in Delhi, India, and an ongoing daily regime of Ayurvedic herbs, I recovered back to 6/9 (20/30) within one year, which then further increased to 6/6 (20/20) three months later (better than before the macula break). This value has remained stable to date.

A horizontal narrow ‘blind’ band (lacquer crack) still exists, observable when viewing through this eye alone (monocular vision), and the eye has maintained an over sensitivity to light.

Subjectively, I rate colour perception and contrast sensitivity as having fully recovered, and not withstanding the better distance visual acuity than even before the macula break, I rate overall recovery at about 90%.
Left eye recovery chart

RIGHT EYE

Deterioration of visual acuity from 6/9 to 6/24 (20/30 to 20/70) December 04 - March 05. Diagnosed as Macular Degeneration with bleeding (thus the wet, neovascular form). Visual Acuity recovered to 6/12 (20/40) by December 06.

Substantial distortion (straight lines appear wavy) still exists together with the inability to see fine detail. Subjectively, I rate colour perception and contrast sensitivity as having recovered about 60%, and rate overall recovery at about 40%.
Right eye recovery chart

Case details for clinicians
The detailed text of my macular degeneration recovery against a timeline ... for clinicians

Case details for non-clinicians

The detailed text of my macular degeneration recovery against a timeline ... for non-clinicians

Discussion of the macular degeneration recovery

Examines issues like placebo effect, co-incidence, the role of my psychological belief in the Ayurvedic treatment with respect to my atypical macula recovery, as well as what may be reasonable to infer from the lack of any spontaneous parallel recovery in the published bio-medical literature.

Frequently asked questions
General, treatment, and practical guidelines for people considering treatment at Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital to treat macular degeneration.

Contacts
Contact details for Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital (and myself).