23andme Genetic Testing Variant for AMD

I recognise that you are very concerned and very anxious, but good on you for putting together a carefully written and clear outline of your situation and your questions. You've also done a lot of research so you have built up your knowledge on macular degeneration. My family experience is that both my mother and my father have macular degeneration. My mother developed it in her late sixties or early seventies, and my father in his eighties. I was diagnosed in my sixties and still have pretty good vision. We all still cope well. Even though my mother eventually became legally blind, she still has peripheral vision. Please remember that even though your genetic test shows an increased risk, there is no guarantee you will develop macular degeneration, and if you do, it may not be until much later in life. And even if it develops, it may not progress to a serious stage. There may even be a cure on the horizon. Your parents and grandparents seem to be going well, so that's a good sign. Needing reading glasses or long vision glasses isn't usually a sign of developing macular degeneration. So, what can you do? I try to spend my energy thinking about steps to take now. You've identified that you could eat more vegetables and exercise more. Perhaps that's a good place to start. And you could make a plan to achieve this. If you look at a Mediterranean Diet it is a good way to go. Check out which vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin as they're good for our eyes. To sum up, taking the preventative measures of exercising when you can, eating well and having regular eye checks is what I would be doing at your age. With Covid hopefully easing up soon, there will be better days ahead. Try not to let the worries of something that might not ever happen, spoil the days you have in front of you right now. I'm glad you reached out to this community and I wish you all the best. Wendy, Advocate.

Hi Wendy , Thanks so much for your kind and gentle reply. It means a lot to me that you took the time to respond with great detail.
Your response made me feel at ease and you're right -- I should spoil the days I have in front of me. I somewhat regret doing the testing because it did make me pretty anxious, but on the other hand, everything happens for a reason and taking preventative measures is always a great step and great for motivation.

I do have one question, how long did it take for your Mom to go legally blind?
Did she take any medications to prevent the progression of the disease?
I can't understand the timeline of how long it takes for someone to lose their vision till blindness with AMD.
Thanks again,
Throo

I don't want to throw a wrench in things, but you really should check out the NOVA story on genetic testing (particularly 23andme and Ancestry) before putting too much faith into it. The episode is Secrets in our DNA. You can see it online via PBS.org

Hi
I also took the 23&me test and I had 1 more marker than you. There are only a few combinations that give you a high risk, it sounds like you have 2 and I have 3 markers.
When I took my test I already knew I had AMD and was being treated. So I thought this was remarkable since my mother had wet AMD which we think she got around 86. She also had Glaucoma beginning at age 40. I was diagnosed at age 57 with Glaucoma AND Wet macular degeneration in my right eye and dry AMD in my left eye.
I would suggest you begin taking Preservision2 made by Bosch and Lomb. I began taking it right away and believe it has helped slow down the progression of both eye diseases. Read articles on this supplement and you will see it is the only govt approved supplement for AMD. The first Presservision was developed by Bosch but the results were so outstanding, the govt helped develop Presservision2. It is the only eye supplement given at Veterans hospitals.
When I was first diagnosed with both diseases at the same time, the eye dr told me that I most likely would only have sight for 3-5 years. He told me very compassionately that I had a double whammy because Glaucoma takes peripheral vision and AMD takes central vision. They started injections for the wet AMD the day I was diagnosed. I must admit I had a few days of tears after realizing I could be blind in a few years. But, here I am now, 70 years old and I still have some sight. I am considered legally blind and had to give up driving 3-4 years ago, but with some aids I can still watch TV and use Uber to get around and other things I’ve mentioned on this group.
I would suggest that you take the results of your 23&me to an ophthalmologist and ask him/her to please test your eyes for a baseline of where they stand now. Then go to this same ophthalmologist for annual checkups so they can catch it early (or hopefully not at all)☺️
If you have any other questions you would like to ask I’d be glad to answer those that I can. If you would like to know the exact genes I can look those up and let you know.
I know people tend not to believe 23 and me because it’s a commercial site, but I have my son who is 48, take the test to see if he had a high chance of getting AMD. His results came back showing that he did not have Even one of the markers for AMD.
But Here’s what I did find interesting is that it showed he had a high chance of Alzheimer’s disease but mine showed I had no chance of Alzheimer’s disease. My mother had Alzheimer’s and my sons father’s mother had Alzheimer’s. So he may have two sets of inherited genes for that disease. Ofcourse I pray that isn’t true.
Sincerely
Connie