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Suggest Treatment For Stargardt's Disease

Posted on Mon, 15 Sep 2014

Question: My close relative is suffering from Star Gardt problem in eyes. She is suffering from the problem for the past 6-7 years. Her age is 23 years now. She has studied B.Tech. She is unable to see distant objects clearly. Even while studying, reading, seeing computer, she is not having clear vision. However, she is able to manage day to day life. One of my friend suggested Nutrilite product VISION HEALTH AND MULTI CAROTENE tablets. Is these products are suit to the problem faced by her. Are there any other good medicines for her problem.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (54 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Stargardt's is a genetically inherited disease.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care magic.

I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an Ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.

I reviewed the history. Stargardt's disease is a genetically inherited macular dystrophy. Unfortunately there is no satisfactory treatment available. But no need to worry as the disease will not cause complete blindness. The disease shows progression but stabilizes as the age increases.
With low visual aids and spectacles, they will retain good vision.

Some precautions need to be taken to prevent rapid progression of the disease. Exposure to UV rays and sun light should be minimized by using protective glasses. Use of Vitamin A or carotene should be avoided as it is shown to worsen the disease.

However antioxidants other than Vitamin A are known to decrease the progression of the disease.

Hope I have answered your question and the information is helpful to you.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (1 hour later)

Thank you for the reply. 1) Whether use of Carrots and Green vegitables to be avoided as they contain Vitamin A. 2) Whether VISION HEALTH & MULTI CAROTINE tablets of Nutrilite (Amway) can be used for improving the vision. Otherwise please suggest any medicine available in XXXXXXX for the decease. 3) Whether the decease may attack to a baby born to her? 4)Whether the eyesight can be improved through any other remedies like eye exercises etc.,

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Baby getting it highly unlikely.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Routine use of carrots and green vegetables will not harm but excessive use in the form of supplementation of Vitamin A is not advised in Stargardts disease. It is advised in age related macular degeneration.

Multi carotene tablets contain vitamin A hence it is better to avoid these tablets. As of now no drugs are known to be of definitive help.

The chances of baby born to her getting the disease is highly unlikely. This is autosomal recessive condition and these require both the parents to be having abnormal gene. If one of the parent is normal, then there is no chance of baby developing the disease.

Eye exercises are not known to improve eye sight. She needs to undergo regular eye check up once in a year and use of spectacles or low visual aids is known to improve vision.

Hope the information is helpful to you.

Thank you
with regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dadapeer K (42 hours later)

Thank you very much Doctor for the informative reply. In fact, we have relieved of tension with your reply with reference to my question "baby getting the decease". She is tensed because of the above doubt. After your reply "baby born to her getting the decease is highly unlikely" she got great relief.

We could not understand "low vision aids". If I am not bothering you, Can you throw some light on the subject. Where do I get the same in XXXXXXX preferably in XXXXXXX Whether the same can be used just like spectacles?

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can consult at L.v. XXXXXXX eye hospital.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.

Nice to hear that the information was helpful to you.
Low visual aids are required in advanced stages of the disease. Not all land in advanced stage. Many of these patients do very good and will have good vision.
Hence no need to worry.
If you want you can consult at L.V XXXXXXX eye hospital in XXXXXXX
It is like spectacles only.
Hope the information is helpful to you.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar