New treatment helps man's faltering sight (macular degeneration)

Hendersonville Times-News ^ | October 17. 2003 | Jennie Jones Giles

[FairOpinion]

Very interesting.

I wish they said more about how do they think these eye drops actually work. Macular degeneration is the degeneration of the retina -- do these drops reverse it or halt it?

[Nov3]

FWIW

The mechanism of action of ECHO in this patient with Stargardt’s disease is not yet known. Our hypothesis is that dilute ECHO makes ACh more available to diseased neuroreceptor populations across the retina. Increased ACh levels may amplify the synaptic potential of the surviving photoreceptors and ganglion cells, making it possible for these reduced populations to achieve threshold and resume the propagation of visual information to the brain. This effect would parallel previously described mechanisms of drug action in other neurological diseases, such as Parkinsonism, Alzheimer’s Disease and Clinical Depression.

[FairOpinion]

Thanks.

If they could really cure or at least halt the progression of MD, it would be a major advancement.

[nmh]

Did I miss it? What's the name of this drug?

[Quix]

THANKS TONS.

I must get this to my dad.

Blessings,

[norraad]

Wow, are you like, a scientist?

Great insight,(no pun intended) thanks.

I'd bet it helps micro-circulation in general, my experience has shown many problems in general can be traced to this root cause.

[Gritty]

What's the name of this drug?

(from the article) The drug used at the Nolan Eye and Laser Center to treat these patients is Echothiophate iodide.

[The Westerner]

I'm going to pass this on to my friend who suffers with MD. It's too late for him since he's had 2 retinal detachments and 2 corneal transplants, but he teaches at Braille Institute and constantly "reads" this kind of news to share with his students.

[Gritty]

Good. I was hoping somebody who could use this information would read this article. It is a terrible condition.

[Quix]

And all the more troublesome because my dad is an aging, troublesome, proud, cantankerous old coot known as the town grouch.

The idea of him being that helpless, dependent etc. must be a very hard one for him to even imagine coming to terms with.

However, it could conceivably make him more easy to be around IF he were to REALLY come to terms with it maturely.

Anyway--much appreciate your helpfulness.

Blessings to you and yours.

[NEPA]

Thanks for the information.

My mother suffers from macular degeneration and it has made life very frustrasting for her. She has always been a strong women (raised 6 kids pretty much alone) and it isn't easy for her to actually need help.

I'm going to bring this info to her next appointment.

[null and void]

Thanks.

Forwarded to my dad.

[Gritty]

BTTT

[Gritty]

BTTT

[BlessedBeGod]

Bump!

[Nov3]

I have had a cornea transplant (due to a botched Lasik procedure) but Thank God no detatched retina.

[Gritty]

I have had a cornea transplant (due to a botched Lasik procedure)

Is this common?

[The Westerner]

That is good, no detachment! I took the article over to my blind friend (2 detachments, 2 corneal transplants.) He wondered whether the doctor has worked with different types of MD or with patients in later stages of disease? Also, why did he apply for a patent? It must have been patented by Wyeth? He called a 24 hour pharmacist who found that Wyeth was producing it. I have written the author to find out.

[null and void]

bump