Before l get started on the requested topic, I want to give a quick update on what is happening with my eyes.
I went to see the new retinologist today. He is not the great man himself but he seemed okay. They completed the optical coherence tomography (OCT) and also did an autofluorescence test. Remember the autofluorescence test is used to find the atrophy. In other words, if you want to see exactly where your cells are in the process of dying, the autofluorescence test will show you. After being flooded with light, the dying cells glow.
After having the autofluorescence test, I saw the new doctor. When he shined his light in my eyes I could actually see my “dead zone”, my healthy cells and, glowing away, the cells that are dying. I know it was my lesion because it looked the same as the scan he showed me a bit later.
Sort of strange to actually see the demise of a part of yourself.
Anyway, I once again put in my pitch for inclusion in a trial. It is looking more and more likely I will be invited into the APL-2 trial. Of course, I was thinking that months ago and it never happened. The study was put on hold due to inflammation in the early trial subjects. Or, maybe I was never called because they just did not “like” me. Stranger things have happened.
Be that as it may, the girl who called later said she understood I was interested and would get back to me in a month or so. If I do get into a study, you will probably hear me screaming. Keep listening!
And now on to the topic I was asked to cover. I don’t have that many words left – I like to keep my pages to digestible chunks – so I have to break it in two installments. The topic was altitude and AMD.
My first thought was this: thin atmosphere means more UV rays getting through. That equals more oxidative stress. That means more damage. Right?
My research indicated I was right in my logic. Allaboutvision.com reports there are two places we have to be particularly aware of the sun. They are high altitudes and low longitudes. That is on mountains and near the equator. UV exposures increase 5% for every 1000 feet in elevation. Because we are a bit closer to the sun at the equator than we are at the poles, UV radiation is stronger there. In addition, the ozone layer, a protective part of the atmosphere, is thinner at the equator, So, if you live on Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador, the highest mountain nearest the equator (I love my search engine!), you are in a lot more danger from UV rays than you are in, say, Cleveland.
But don’t forget one thing that Mount Chimborazo and Cleveland have in common: they both get snow. Snow reflects UV rays four times as well as desert sand.
Low altitude. Not so close to the Equator. Sand instead of snow. Sounds like Phoenix?
Next: Sue on Assignment: Altitude and AMD – Part 2
Written November 15th, 2018