Probably nothing affects quality of life as much as vision loss. Loss of estrogen after menopause can increase the risk of macular degeneration. Fortunately, Manhattan hormone replacement therapy for macular degeneration may help you from losing your vision with age, as well as improve your health in a variety of other areas. Schedule a consultation with a skilled doctor to learn more about how this type of therapy could help you.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, and unfortunately is incurable. Macular degeneration occurs when the macula—the central part of the retina—deteriorates. Macular degeneration can be either dry or wet, with the former being far more common than the latter.
The macula is responsible for recording the images a person views and sending them from the eye to the brain via the optic nerve. When the macula deteriorates, a person may lose the ability to read, drive or recognize other people.
While anyone may develop macular degeneration, some types of people are at greater risk than others. Age and race are common risk factors, with older white people being the most vulnerable. In addition, women are more likely to develop macular degeneration than men, as are smokers compared to non-smokers.
When the ovaries stop producing estrogen after menopause, it causes all kinds of side effects in women. Many women are familiar with hormone replacement therapy for alleviation of common menopausal issues, including hot flashes, loss of libido and vaginal dryness. However, the loss of estrogen has an effect on the body that is not always obvious, and that sometimes includes the development of macular degeneration.
Women who take hormone replacement therapy can reduce their risk of macular degeneration by nearly half. Those odds may be boosted for women who previously took oral contraceptives and for women who gave birth, as these factors increase a woman’s estrogen exposure levels over her lifetime.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy consists of natural hormones derived from plant sources such as soy and wild yam, rather than the pregnant mare’s urine that is the source of conventional hormone replacement therapy. The body recognizes bioidentical hormones as the same on the molecular level as those it produces itself, which in turn means side effects associated with traditional therapy—such as increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease—do not occur with the bioidentical variety.
Along with custom-tailored bioidentical hormones created in a state-of-the-art compounding pharmacy, the doctor may also recommend nutritional supplements that can boost eye health and further reduce the odds of losing eyesight to macular degeneration. Certain foods may also reduce the risk of eyesight loss, and the doctor can help construct a diet plan that reflects this.
If you would like more information about how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may reduce your odds of developing macular degeneration, call the office of Dr. Edward Jacobson today and set up a consultation. Once Dr. Jacobson answers all your questions about Manhattan hormone replacement therapy for macular degeneration, you could be well-equipped to make an informed decision about your healthcare options.