Docs Who Lift GLP-1 meds and macular degeneration
Jun 23, 2025
Join Dr. Brueger, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist, as he dives into age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its potential links to GLP-1 medications. Discover the types and causes of AMD, including key risk factors like genetics and lifestyle. The fascinating conversation also explores how diabetes and its treatments relate to eye health. Dr. Brueger clarifies misconceptions about vision loss from macular degeneration, making it both informative and engaging.
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Understanding Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) results from waste buildup called drusen under the retina causing inflammation and vision loss.
- It leads to geographic atrophy or growth of damaging blood vessels in the retina, impairing central vision but not peripheral vision.
Key Risk Factors for AMD
- Risk factors for AMD include age, genetics, female sex, Scandinavian descent, light-colored eyes, and especially smoking.
- Smoking can increase your risk of macular degeneration by 400-fold, highlighting its dramatic impact on eye health.
Slow AMD With Vitamins and Lifestyle
- Patients with early AMD should consider taking AREDS-2 vitamins to help slow the disease progression.
- Lifestyle changes improving metabolic health—controlling diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure—also help slow AMD progression.