Customer Reviews

Overcoming Macular Degeneration : A Guide to Seeing Beyond the Clouds

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr. Solomon has written a wonderfully insightful account to aid patients and families cope with macular degeneration. He writes from the unique perspective of being an ophthalmologist who suddenly realized that he was now a patient with macular degeneration. The text is much more than an account of his experience. It is an in-depth review to help patients and families understand macular degeneration, the natural course of the disease, current theories for treatment and prevention, including careful consideration of the role of vitamins and nutrition. Overcoming Macular Degeneration addresses spoken and unspoken patient fears and concerns. There is thorough review of options and attitudes for dealing with visual impairments to enable patients to increase their visual ability and achieve a renewed lifestyle. Overcoming Macular Degeneration is a welcome addition to the support system for those dealing with macular degeneration. I will frequently recommend this book to my patients and their families. G. Robert Hampton, MD - Retina Specialist on the American Academy of Ophthalmology Public Information Committee, Syracuse, NY

This book on macular degeneration is by far the best one published to date.There are numerous other publications available by other doctors that don't come close to the quality and depth of information contained in this book. I even gave a copy to my eye doctor who was not aware of it's availability.I must add that this doctor really speaks from personal experience with Macular Degeneration and it shows in the quality and quantity of great information.I thank God for this mans bookand highly recommend it to anyone who has MD or a friend or relative with the problem.Sincere thanks,Lee CarlsonSpring Hill, Fl

I have a parent with macular degeneration and this book gave my father and our family new hope and inspiration. Particularly compelling was the fact that the author himself suffers from this affliction. The information provided was extremely useful and written in an informal, personal and non-technical manner. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has or knows someone with macular degeneration.

Here's a book with real substance written by a doctor who has M.D.There are too many books on the marketthat appear to be written by doctors who are looking over someones shoulderin an attempt to write authoritively onthe subject. I was very impressed by the dept of knowledge of this doctor who writes with true in depth investigative knowledge, he truly understands because he has the problem.A lot of good advice regarding diet which is of major importance, and life style, (Smoking), etc.Careful reading will show at least how to stop the progression and he also tells what kind of research is being done to find , if not a cure, at leastpossible major help.I'll buy anything this guy writes !

My husband has AMD, and we've been fighting it (with some, but limited success) for the last few years.
Most of our effort was based on what I could learn on-line, such as at [...] and AMD Society.
But we both were fighting bravely..suspecting he would be blind within a few years,
and unwilling to burden/talk about it with each other.

The first great information given by Dr. and Jonathan Solomon: my love will not go totally blind.

Second: he will be disabled. Disabled: he can no longer drive.

Third: there are tools and sources to help him enjoy retirement.
To help US to enjoy retirement.

My hubby/love is designing better 'readers' than Lighthouse offers: cameras, screens and all...at lower cost... now that we understand the problem better.
Dr. Solomon also addresses the problem of indifferent or ignorant medical folk (technicians and opthy folk). He lived thru what we lived thru...and told us we weren't nuts to think we were being brushed off. Or ignored/denied.

If you have a family member diagnosed with AMD ...........
BUY THIS BOOK
In LARGE print. Chuckle.
And talk to each other.
Talk.
Check other sources too.........but measure them off this book.

The Mulhollands

Macular degeneration is a disease that doesn't just affect people in their 50s and 60s - it can strike at any time, has a hereditary component, and there's no way to predict the rate of progression. More depressingly, it robs sufferers of their central vision and there's no cure available, either through drugs or surgery.

Being diagnosed with MD feels like being told you've got terminal cancer, and Dr Solomon immediately identifies the coldness of the medical community in handling patients with this disease. He also dispels some of the myths around MD - it's relieving to hear that you will *not* go blind - and talks about how patients can restructure their lives to manage this disease. While it's undoubtedly a life-changing event, he provides great insight into what specifically will change and how sufferers can address these problems (such as having to quit driving).

However, as an early MD sufferer, the biggest challenge for me is how to halt its progression, and the book provides extremely useful advice on how to change habits and lifestyle to give yourself the best chance of preserving your eyesight for longer. Specifically:

* Quit toxin-inducing habits (drinking, smoking, coffee, etc.)
* Introduce kale, spinach, carrot and broccoli into as many meals as you can
* Start a regimented vitamin routine
* Begin a daily exercise program

Out of the sheer terror of this disease, I've immediately and permanently adopted all four of these points - and while the dead retinal cells will never regrow, it's worth taking the chance that these steps may help slow or stop any further deterioration. I'm doing my best to buy time, since I've been investigating the stem cell operation in some detail, and have the feeling that it's still 5 years away from a reliable and safe solution.

Overall, I feel this book is the authority on macular degeneration, especially given the scant information provided by opticians and doctors. Its message is simple: this is a manageable condition that has attracted feverish levels of medical research, with the potential for a cure in the future, and its progression can be decelerated. But most importantly: you won't go blind.

*****
This is far and away the best book written on macular degeneration. Not just written by an ophthalmologist, it is written by a compassionate ophthalmologist who has age-related macular degeneration (AMD) himself, and who has established a practice devoted to AMD and the rehabilitation of low vision. I cannot overestimate the amount of relief I felt when I read his book as opposed to many/most of the others, which stress hopelessness and have a grim tone. This book provides a realistic yet positive view of the prognosis of AMD, no matter how much or how little vision you have left as the years go by.

It covers everything you need to know in just one book. The average person will not need to buy any others, many of which sound like they were written with copy from doctors' office brochures cut and pasted in. It is also a good book for the AMD patient's family to read. The book covers: understanding the diagnosis, explaining AMD, therapies, the important role of nutrition (diet as well as which supplements to take), as well as important concerns such as how to decide when to stop driving, low vision rehabilitation, adapting your home, caregiver issues, and so much more. It is a book that gives hope, comfort, reassurance, and invaluable knowledge.

Thank you, Dr. Solomon, for giving this gift to those of us who have received this potentially terrifying diagnosis. It took me from a place of sheer terror and panic to one of hope and feeling as though I would be able to cope no matter what happens.

Highly recommended.
*****

This 2nd edition of Dr. Solomon's book is a very worthwhile read. The anatomy of the eye and the physiology is discussed for those who need to understand what is going on in Age Related Macular Degeneration. In addition, Dr. Solomon discusses the emotional aspect from a patient's viewpoint and as an ophthalmologist who diagnosed others for many years. The personal stories included offer emotional support and encouragement.

This book gives a relatively current update on treatment(the field is changing so rapidly that no book will be totally current), preventive and dietary recommendations and how to deal with the forthcoming loss of vision that comes with the diagnosis.

As a patient in the early stages of wet ARMD, I have asked my family to read this book to help them understand what my journey will be about. I have also recommended this book to friends with ARMD and to my phsician for a patient recommended reading list. The publisher would be wise to use a slightly bolder print in upcoming printings.

The review is short. I learned I have macular degeneration. I wanted to know everything I could about it above my conversations with my retina specialist. This book helped me.

I started my search looking for large print books for my mother, who has macular degeneration. This was one of the books that I found in my search. Since this was written for people with a vision problem and includes a list of large print publishers, I assumed, incorrectly, that this would be large print as well. It's larger than some paperbacks, but not as large as the other two books I bought. I am hoping my mother will be able to use it.