(AMD) and Exploring Supportive Therapies

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition an dwe would like to share insights into potential supportive treatments like medical ozone therapy for dry AMD.

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition which affects the macula, which is the central part of your retina responsible for the sharp, detailed vision you rely on for everyday tasks. It's the leading cause of central vision loss for individuals over 60, and it can sometimes make activities like reading, driving, or recognizing faces a little more challenging. Rest assured, your peripheral vision usually remains unaffected.

Exploring the Two Main Types of AMD: Wet vs. Dry

AMD primarily comes in two forms, each with its unique characteristics:

• • Dry (Atrophic) AMD: This is the more common type, accounting for about 80-90% of all AMD cases. It develops gradually as the macula thins and tiny yellow deposits called drusen accumulate. Vision loss typically progresses slowly over several years.
• • Wet (Neovascular or Exudative) AMD: While less common, this type can be more aggressive. It occurs when abnormal, fragile blood vessels grow beneath the retina, leaking fluid or blood that can quickly damage the macula. This can lead to a more rapid and noticeable decline in vision.

To help illustrate the differences, here's a brief overview:

Feature  Dry AMD  Wet AMD

In essence, Dry AMD is more prevalent and progresses gently, whereas Wet AMD is less common but can be quite aggressive, leading to more rapid and significant vision changes.

Can Medical Ozone Therapy Offer Support for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Current standard treatments for AMD have somewhat limited options for slowing its progression. However, some encouraging small studies, involving hundreds of participants, suggest that medical ozone therapy may offer benefits for individuals living with dry AMD. It's important to note that this therapy has not been found effective for wet AMD and is not recommended in those specific cases.

How Might Ozone Therapy Help with Dry AMD?

With limited options currently available to slow dry macular degeneration, research has explored medical ozone therapy as a potential complementary approach. This gentle treatment involves mixing a precise dose of ozone with a patient’s own blood, which is then carefully re-infused. Studies indicate that this therapy may:

• • Enhance oxygen delivery to the retina, the eye’s delicate, light-sensitive tissue.
• • Improve circulation in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the eye.
• • Boost the body’s natural antioxidant systems, helping to protect eye cells from harm.
• • Potentially slow the deterioration of vision, and in some cases, help patients experience clearer or more stable eyesight.

While ozone therapy isn't a cure for macular degeneration and its effects can vary among individuals, the evidence suggests it can offer valuable benefits when thoughtfully combined with standard eye care and a healthy lifestyle.

The Drummartin Clinic Approach to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

At Drummartin Clinic, under the guidance of our Medical Director, Dr. Patrick Magovern, we wholeheartedly advocate for a holistic and comprehensive approach to managing serious health conditions like AMD, which can profoundly influence your quality of life. Rather than looking for quick fixes, we encourage a thorough functional medical assessment that considers every aspect of your well-being.

Functional Medical Assessment and Individualized Care

Beyond solely focusing on your vision status, our assessment includes screening for biotoxins and, when appropriate, implementing detoxification protocols. This in-depth functional medicine framework is designed to provide comprehensive support for our patients with AMD.

Integrating Ozone Therapy Responsibly

Our philosophy is to view each patient as a unique individual. Rather than recommending ozone treatment in isolation, we believe in integrating all relevant health strategies to create a more complete and effective management plan for those living with AMD.

What the Research Says About Medical Ozone Therapy for AMD

Studies over the past thirty years have been exploring the promising role of medical ozone therapy as a supportive treatment for dry macular degeneration. This therapy involves introducing a controlled amount of ozone mixed with the patient’s own blood, which is then re-infused. The evidence suggests that this approach may enhance oxygen delivery to the retina, improve circulation in the eye’s small vessels, and bolster the body’s natural antioxidant defences. These positive effects, in turn, may help to slow the progression of vision loss and, for some, even lead to clearer or more stable eyesight. While ozone therapy is not a cure and individual results can vary, research points to meaningful advantages when combined with conventional eye care and healthy lifestyle habits. The general trend seems to be a significant slowing of visual decline, with some individuals experiencing improvement.

A Look at Key Studies on Ozone Therapy in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration:

• • Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (2012): Published in the International Journal of Ophthalmology, this study involved 140 patients with dry AMD. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive ozone therapy (27 sessions over 12 months) or a standard multivitamin regimen.
  • o Results at 6 and 12 months: The ozone group showed an average improvement in best-corrected visual acuity, while the control group worsened. At 12 months, 25% of treated eyes gained at least one line of vision, with none in the control group. Encouragingly, no treated patients lost vision, in contrast to the control group where a significant percentage experienced vision loss. Blood tests also revealed reduced oxidative stress and increased antioxidant potential in the ozone group.
  • o Conclusion: This study suggested that ozonated autohemotherapy was safe and could potentially slow AMD progression and improve vision.
• • Oxygen-Ozone Infusions Study (1990s): Featured in Panminerva Medica, this earlier study involved 20 patients with age-related maculopathy who received intravenous ozonized major autohemoinfusion over four months.
  • o Results: Most patients demonstrated clinical improvements in vision and overall eye health.
  • o Note: This was a smaller, early study, offering initial suggestions of potential benefit and highlighting the need for further research.
• • Review of Ozone Therapy (University of Siena, since 1996): Published in Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol, this review summarized findings from two smaller clinical studies (totalling 217 patients).
  • o Findings: The review suggested that ozone therapy could help halt disease progression, improve visual acuity, and enhance patient well-being, noting a good safety profile and patient compliance.

Guidance for Patients Considering Medical Ozone Therapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

We want to empower you with the best possible care and information.

Initial Recommendations:

• • Maintain Regular Eye Specialist Appointments: If you're experiencing AMD, it's absolutely vital to continue your regular check-ups with your eye specialist. This ensures close monitoring, especially since dry AMD can, in some cases, progress to the more severe wet form.
• • Pre-Treatment Visual Acuity: Before commencing ozone therapy, please ensure your visual acuity has been accurately measured by your eye specialist. This baseline measurement is essential for us to effectively track your progress throughout your treatment journey.
• • Book a Full Functional Medical Consultation: We encourage you to move beyond thinking of your body as just "two eyes and nothing else." Your other body systems, particularly your immune system, play a significant role. There's growing evidence suggesting that autoimmunity, though complex, can be a factor in AMD. Studies highlight shared inflammatory pathways between AMD and certain autoimmune conditions, an increased risk of AMD in individuals with autoimmune conditions, and the presence of autoantibodies in some AMD patients. Genetic studies also hint at connections between certain immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and AMD risk.

The Drummartin Clinic Approach:

• • Medical Ozone Therapy: Our clinic offers medical ozone therapy for AMD, specifically utilizing the advanced ten-pass ozone procedure as a treatment option.
• • Holistic Assessment: Beyond ocular treatments, we carefully evaluate your biotoxin and overall toxic burden. Our goal is to gently reduce these factors, addressing AMD from a comprehensive perspective.

Understanding Our Treatment Protocol:

Most published studies you might encounter typically use lower-dose, single-pass ozone treatments administered weekly over extended periods. Our protocol adapts this method for greater practicality and cost-efficiency while enhancing the therapeutic benefits.

• • Traditional Low-Dose Ozone: Often required frequent clinic visits (e.g., 100ml of ozone at 30–50mcg/ml, twice weekly, totaling 3,000–5,000mcg per session).
• • Our Approach: We initially use 220ml at 70mcg/ml per pass, delivering 15,400mcg initially and up to 77,000mcg after five passes.
• • Once treatment tolerance is established we go on to ten-pass treatment. A ten-pass treatment delivers approximately 154,000mcg (10 passes of 220ml x 70mcg/ml). This significantly increases the dose per session, reducing the need for repeated patient visits, making it more convenient and cost-effective for you.

Your Functional Medical Consultation and Treatment Journey:

• • Initial Consultation:
  • o We invite you to schedule a comprehensive functional medical consultation.
  • o To make the most of our time together, please complete a detailed questionnaire before your first visit.
  • o Your initial appointment will last approximately 70–80 minutes and will include personalized recommendations for additional diagnostic tests.
• • Treatment Timeline:
  • o Week 1: We'll begin with a single session, using three to five passes to gently introduce the therapy.
  • o Weeks 2–5: You'll then progress to four once-weekly sessions, each involving the ten-pass procedure.
  • o Week 6: A short break from treatment.
  • o Between Weeks 3 and 6: We'll have your first functional medical follow-up to review your test results and assess your progress.
  • o Week 7: You'll receive another ten-pass ozone treatment.
  • o Weeks 8–9: Another brief pause in treatments.
  • o Week 10: Administer another ten-pass session.
  • o Weeks 11–12: Treatment pause.
  • o Week 12 (approx.): Your second follow-up functional medical consultation.
  • o Week 13: Ten-pass treatment.
  • o Week 17: Ten-pass treatment.
  • o Week 21: Ten-pass treatment.
  • o Week 25: Ten-pass treatment.
  • o Week 26 (Six-Month Mark): A comprehensive reassessment is recommended to evaluate your overall progress.
• • Ongoing Care:
  • o Following this initial phase, further follow-up appointments and maintenance treatments will be carefully tailored to your individual progress and evolving needs.

This thoughtfully designed protocol adapts the findings of published studies, which often use lower-dose, single-pass ozone treatments over extended periods, making our approach both more practical and highly effective for your long-term well-being.