Improve Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Oxygen-Rich HBOT
If you live with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), you know how debilitating the loss of vision can be. For those who haven’t heard of it, AMD occurs when the macula in the eye deteriorates. The macula is a yellowish colored area near the eye’s retina which is most responsible for visual acuity. People with AMD experience wavy or blurry vision – and even blindness if the eye disease continues to progress. Often those with AMD lose the ability to read, drive or even recognize the faces of people they know. Any task that involves fine detail becomes virtually impossible. It’s a truly alarming condition for those who suffer. But there is hope. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help improve vision associated with age-related macular degeneration.
Damage from AMD can be rapid and severe, or the condition can progress more gradually. And because the disease’s course is so hard to predict, those with AMD live with continual uncertainty. But treatment in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber is helping patients improve their visual acuity.
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Treatments Help Vision Acuity in those with AMD
During hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), those with macular degeneration lie in an enclosed state-of-the-art chamber where they breathe pure oxygen at higher than normal air pressures. Part of what causes the macula’s decline is lack of oxygen. HBOT’s supersaturated O2 environment promotes eye cell regeneration and healing. It also aids the body’s production of stem cells, which can transform into a wide range of cell types, including those that help with vision.
Does Insurance Cover Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments for Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Currently, the FDA considers macular degeneration an off-label condition for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Unfortunately, this means that most insurance companies will not cover it. However, we have many AMD patients our Palm Harbor, Florida Center who improve their vision with HBOT, and we are committed to helping them find ways to keep treatments affordable.
If you would like to learn whether HBOT could help with your macular degeneration or that of a loved one, we would be glad to provide a consultation. To schedule your personalized consultation, simply click here. A member of our staff will call to confirm your appointment soon. Alternatively, please feel free to call us at 727-787-7077.