Macular
Degeneration
Recovery
HIGHLY ATYPICAL
MYOPIC MACULAR DEGENERATION
RECOVERY
subsequent to treatment by MAHARISHI AYURVEDA
Case details for clinicians
APR-
LEFT EYE
Loss of central vision from 6/9 to 6/60 (from 20/200 to 20/20):
Distortion for 2 months, followed by loss of central vision from 6/9 to 6/36, pinhole
6/24 (20/30 to 20/100, pinhole 20/70) in June. My referring doctor was informed
by my consultant ophthalmologist that the fluorescein angiogram ... “does not reveal
leakage beneath his left macula. His diagnosis is therefore one of progression of
his myopic macular degeneration which will unfortunately result in visual loss on
the left.”
Further deterioration to 6/60 (20/200) by July, and subsequent to a second
angiogram, my referring doctor was informed that “he has a break in the RPE layer
of his left retina, which unfortunately goes right through his macula” and “the fluorescein
angiogram suggests that this break is related to his myopia and not to any neovascular
membrane”
It may be pertinent to note, that in view of the unusual picture my case presented,
my consultant ophthalmologist consulted with several of his colleagues who also corroborated
the atrophic diagnosis (but see Note 2 below).
RIGHT EYE
Early stage macular degeneration diagnosed. Deterioration from 6/9 to 6/12 (20/30
to 20/40) -
AUGUST 2004 (1st residential Ayurvedic treatment in Delhi, India)
Began taking daily Ayurvedic herbs after an Ayurvedic consultation in London, and shortly thereafter travelled to Delhi, India for 21 days residential Ayurvedic treatment under the special guidance of Dr. Raju at Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital. (I also began taking daily doses of a Lutein based neutrical). Upon my return to the UK, I continued to take daily Ayurvedic herbs and the neutrical, which I continue to do.
LATE 2004 -
LEFT EYE
Subjectively observable improvements begun Oct / Nov 2004. By Feb 2005, vision had
improved to 6/18 (20/60). Examination at this time revealed the peri-
RIGHT EYE (1st bleed)
Onset of observed distortion and deterioration in December 2004, and examination in February 2005 revealed a small Foster Fuch’s spot adjacent to the fovea resulting from a neovascular event (1st bleed). Optometrist measured vision in Dec 2004, was 6/9 +2 (better than 20/30).
MARCH 2005 (2nd and 3rd bleed; one Verteporin PDT treatment)
RIGHT EYE
Further deterioration in vision. Fluorescein angiogram revealed a scotoma with strong
indication of active choroidal neovascularisation (2nd bleed). Verteporin PDT was
administered, followed by an acutely distressing and dramatic loss of vision the
next day, which gradually improved to equal the pre-
By the end of week three there was a net slight improvement in vision relative to
the pre-
Having considered the risk / benefit ratio of further PDT in the light of being in
the subgroup susceptible to increased and possibly permanent vision loss, I decided
against further PDT
Optometrist measured vision in April 2005, was 6/12 -
JULY 2005
LEFT EYE
Atypical recovery back to 6/9 (20/30) from it’s pre-
RIGHT EYE
Further vision deterioration to 6/24 (20/80).
SEPT/OCT 2005
LEFT EYE
Optometrist measured vision, Sept 2005, showed further recovery to 6/6 -
RIGHT EYE
Optometrist measured vision, Sept 2005, measured recovery to 6/18 (20/50)
Further 23 days of residential treatment at Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital in October.
MAY 2006
LEFT EYE
Optometrist measured vision in May 2006, showed recovery to 6/6 (20/20)
RIGHT EYE
Optometrist measured vision in May 2006, showed small improvement to 6/18 +2
(better than 20/50)
NOV 06
LEFT EYE
Optometrist measured vision in Nov 2006, showed recovery holding at 6/6 (20/20).
RIGHT EYE
Optometrist measured vision in Nov 2006, now at 6/12+3 (approx.
20/35). Marked
improvement in colour perception, though there is still substantial
distortion (straight
lines appear wavy) and inability to see fine detail.
MAY 2007 (discharged by consultant)
LEFT EYE
Optometrist measured vision in May 2007 showed recovery still holding at 6/6
(20/20).
RIGHT EYE
Optometrist measured vision in May 2007, now showing at 6/12 (20/40)
Notes:
1. Left Eye: myope value has gone from 6.5 to 7.0.
2. Left Eye: although diagnosis (June, July 04) was ‘dry’ macular degeneration,
my later
consultant expresses the view that leakage had to have occurred.
I understand he arrives
at this view with reference to his belief that
recovery of the magnitude I exhibit is
probably not explainable any other
way.
3. Right Eye: in June 04, consultant measured value was 6/5. As this is inconsistent
with
my earlier dispensing optician measured value at 6/9 (20/30), it would
appear to be
anomalous and is omitted from the graphed data set.
4. Over-
5. Visual Acuity values are Snellen and some were taken in uncontrolled conditions
relative
to each other.
the recovery > details for clinicians