Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a frequent cause of blindness among older individuals. This disorder entails the degeneration of the retina, with the risk escalating significantly. The likelihood of developing AMD surges beyond middle age and affects nearly 1 in 12 people aged 45 to 85 worldwide.
Conventional treatments such as injectable medications and supplements do not offer vision restoration but aim to decelerate its deterioration. Researchers are currently focusing on exploring novel therapies for AMD, with a newfound interest in cannabis-derived products from Online Dispensary Canada gaining traction.
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways:
- What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Canada
- Smoking Marijuana Flowers For AMD: A Study
- How Top-Quality cannabis Products Protect Your Eyes
- AMD Patient Can Buy cannabis Online Through Online Dispensary Canada for Quality cannabis Products
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Key Takeaways:
- Age-related Macular Degeneration is the most common type of blindness in people ages 45 to 85.
- Patients who smoke cannabis 100 times reduce the development of AMD.
- THC and CBD reduce intraocular pressure, manage inflammation, and reduce vision loss.
What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Age-related macular degeneration blurs central vision due to aging-related damage to the macula, which controls sharp vision and is part of the retina (the eye’s light-sensitive tissue).
AMD commonly impacts the central vision. While it doesn’t lead to complete blindness, it can hinder reading and facial recognition tasks. There are two types of AMD:
Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This is also known as “atrophic AMD” and is the more common type. It occurs when the macula thins due to aging and progresses slowly over time through three stages:
- Early
- Intermediate
- Late
While there’s no treatment for late-stage dry AMD, you can maximize your remaining vision and protect your other eye if only one is affected.
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This is also called “advanced neovascular AMD” and is less common but leads to faster vision loss. It occurs in the late stage and results from abnormal blood vessel growth behind the eye, which damages the macula. The good news is that various treatment options are available for wet AMD.
What Are the AMD Symptoms?
- Early dry AMD usually has no symptoms.
- Some people may have no symptoms of intermediate dry AMD, while others may experience mild blurriness or difficulty seeing in low light.
- Late AMD (wet or dry) often causes straight lines to appear wavy or crooked. You may notice a blurry spot in the center of your vision, which may expand over time. Colours may seem duller, and seeing in low light may become more challenging.
- Wavy lines are a red flag for late AMD. If you see this symptom, visit your eye doctor promptly.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Canada
Approximately 2.5 million people in Canada have AMD, and nearly 180,000 experience vision loss. Researchers surveyed 337 participants from January to June 2020 to investigate this.
The survey results are as follows:
| 47.1% | Wet AMD |
| 37.7% | Dry AMD |
| 12.8% | Wet and dry AMD |
| 80% | AMD-related vision loss impacted their daily activities |
| 77% | Suffers from psychological stress due to its progression |
| 46% | Expressing satisfaction with the treatment |
| One-fifth | Ineffective or were unsure about the treatment |
| 38.2% | Anxiety about injections |
Smoking Marijuana Flowers For AMD: A Study
Two researchers analyzed UK Biobank data to see if smoking cannabis is helpful to AMD.
They found that patients who used marijuana over 100 times had a lower risk of AMD compared to those who never used marijuana. Using marijuana daily leads to a lower risk of AMD compared to using it less than once a month. Those who used cannabis over 100 times were significantly younger (by eight years) when they developed AMD compared to those who never used cannabis.
Drusen accumulates within Bruch’s membrane, which impedes the passage between the retinal pigment epithelium and the vasculature, thus inciting an inflammatory response. Genetic predisposition and smoking can expedite this process. Marijuana exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, potentially slowing down this inflammatory cascade.
How Top-Quality cannabis Products Protect Your Eyes
According to a study published in Pharmacology & Therapeutics, THC shows promise in lowering intraocular pressure and preventing vision impairment.
CBD could improve vision clarity by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This mechanism effectively impedes the progression of damage caused by abnormal blood vessels, thereby decelerating the rate of vision loss. A study involving mice focused on cancer research indicated that CBD reduced the expression of various genes related to the VEGF pathway.
Cannabinoids may also alleviate symptoms of macular diseases due to their ability to inhibit angiogenesis, provide neuroprotection, and decrease ocular pressure.
Given its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, cannabis can manage inflammation. Cannabidiol, in particular, shows promise in alleviating inflammation in patients with glaucoma and AMD.
AMD Patient Can Buy cannabis Online Through Online Dispensary Canada for Quality cannabis Products
AMD patients can order cannabis online as these online cannabis stores offer an extensive cannabis selection. The best marijuana dispensary in Canada’s cannabis industry will provide you with high-quality cannabis products like cannabis strains, cannabis concentrates, and edibles.
Buying cannabis online is simple, as most stores have intuitive websites and secure check-out processes. An online cannabis store prioritizes customer satisfaction by ensuring the highest quality products at the lowest prices and complete with shipping insurance for peace of mind.
Conclusion
Cannabis can aid AMD patients in alleviating symptoms and slowing the progression of vision loss. The compounds diminish pain by managing inflammation and act as a neuroprotective agent against further degeneration. Recent surveys indicate that regular cannabis use in the early stages shows promising results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cannabis product is best to manage the symptoms of AMD?
When purchasing cannabis online in Canada, you’ll encounter a diverse selection of products, such as cannabis flower, edibles, and concentrates. Each product is effective because it contains the necessary cannabinoids to manage symptoms. It’s important to note that each product has a different onset time. For quick relief, options like dabbing, vaping, or smoking flower or concentrates are your best bet.
Both CBD and THC offer solutions to inhibit or reduce vision loss. Products containing both cannabinoids, such as 1:1 THC: CBD edibles, are available. You can also purchase products containing only one cannabinoid, either THC or CBD. Opting for THC entails experiencing the psychoactive effects of marijuana, whereas CBD lacks psychoactive effects.
Do I get a discount if I buy cannabis online Canada for medical purposes?
If you possess a medical marijuana card, you’re eligible for discounts at medical marijuana dispensaries. Discounts at recreational dispensaries vary depending on the establishment. These may include free shipping, bulk purchase discounts, first-order incentives, and more.
Affiliations:
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
- Severn Health Solutions, Severna Park, Maryland, USA
