Welcome to reverseAMD.com. This site is dedicated to the treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) based upon the work of Alston C. Lundgren, MD. Dr. Lundgren developed the experimental Santa Fe Eye Protocol to Reverse the Vision Loss of Macular Degeneration — henceforth abbreviated The Santa Fe Eye Protocol.

It is the only documented treatment to reverse vision loss in cases of both Wet and Dry AMD. It also works in other retinal conditions including Stargardt's, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Histoplasmosis, Myopic Degeneration and several rare genetic conditions. In aggregate these all behave similarly to AMD — but the numbers are small and most experience is with AMD.

Dr. Lundgren presented his November 2007 to August 2008 results at the 18th International Congress of Eye Research (English speaking academic ophthalmologists) in Beijing this September. A link to his paper is on the upper right of this page.

The Santa Fe Eye Protocol is a five-fold treatment that achieves measurable results through minimally invasive techniques. 1st, small steel studs are inserted in regions of the ear whose nerve endings have been shown to correspond with specific areas of the brain. By stimulating these nerves, cortisone and oxygen-rich blood are induced in the region of the retina. 2nd, needle electrodes are inserted in the fat around the eyeball and are stimulated with a mild electrical current. These electrodes stimulate the retina and surrounding tissues. 3rd, needles are inserted into specific points, which, through observation and Dr. Lundgren's personal experience, have been demonstrated to affect the eye. In Spring 2007, a 4th component was added - electrically stimulating the scalp over the visual cortex which occupies a very considerable portion of the brain. Finally a 5th component was added to increase personal energy and allow faster healing.

In the course of over 6,000 individual eye treatments on more than 700 individual patients, and as reported in two articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, this combination of physical and electric stimulation currently results in measurable improvements in the vision of approximately 85% of individual eyes and 93% of patients when both eyes are combined. The Santa Fe Eye Protocol has few risks, is minimally invasive and therefore is a welcome addition to traditional treatments such as vitamin therapy, thermal laser, Photodynamic Therapy, Macugen, Avastin and Lucentis.

Dr. Lundgren is so confident in the results of this protocol that all charges will be refunded if after four treatments there is not objective improvement in visual acuity. As measured on National Eye Institute ETDRS charts, one eye must test at least one line better in either near or distant vision. Most patients show much greater improvement.

Reversal of Vision Loss in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Medical Acupuncture — A Proof-of-Concept Report

Presented at the XVIII International Congress of Eye Research Beijing, China, 28 September 2008
Alston C. Lundgren, MD

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of vision loss in the over age 50 population in USA. The AREDS Study has demonstrated the benefits of high- dose antioxidant supplements in slowing the progression of AMD. Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF antibodies (ranaibizumab) have been shown to stabilize vision in exudative AMD, but vision improvement was found in only 34% of these patients. The efficacy and the safety of medical acupuncture were evaluated in an analysis of AMD patients (both dry and wet form with non-active and disciform lesions.) Patients underwent conventional therapy as well as receiving a standardized protocol of medical acupuncture treatments combining a number of different techniques. These techniques include Canadian Neuroanatomic Acupuncture, German Ear Acupuncture, Chinese and Japanese Scalp Acupuncture and French Energetics.

The primary efficacy endpoint was mean change from baseline visual acuity using both distant and near ETDRS eye charts.

150 individual patients (268 eyes) with dry AMD and 68 individual patients (97 eyes) with wet AMD were treated between November 2007 and August 2008. Mean intake distant visual acuity was 26 letters for those with dry AMD (25 letters equals Snellen 20/80) and 15 letters for those with wet AMD (15 letters equals Snellen 20/125.) Mean intake near acuity was 32 letters (Snellen 20/115) for dry and 20 letters (Snellen 20/200) for wet AMD. 88.1% of dry eyes improved while 9.6% lost visual acuity. 84.5% of wet eyes improved while 13.4% lost vision. When visual acuities for near and distant tests for both eyes were combined, 93% of individuals had gains in vision for both wet and dry varieties of AMD.

The mean number of treatments per patient for both dry and wet AMD eyes was 4. The net overall improvement in visual acuity for patients with dry AMD was 5.8 letters for distant vision and 4.5 letters for near vision. Patients with wet AMD improved 5.5 letters for distant vision and 4.3 letters for near vision.

Additionally, there were consistent improvements in contrast sensitivity as measured by Pelli-Robson charts, color discrimination as measured by isochromatic charts and subjective vision as measured by VF-14 questionnaires. The only side effects were periorbital ecchymoses which always self-resolved.

Medical acupuncture administered in addition to conventional therapy provided significant visual acuity benefit to patients with both dry and wet AMD and was well tolerated. No serious ocular or non-ocular side effects were observed.

Statistical Significance

Patients sometimes test better and sometimes test worse on eye charts on different days. Literature supports an individual having test-to-test variation as being +/-1 1/2 lines in either direction with a 95% confidence level. 18, 19 That implies that 1 1/2 lines equals 2 standard deviations. Thus one standard deviation is 0.75 lines on a logMAR chart like the ETDRS ones.

The Central Limit Theorem addresses the standard deviation of a group. The standard deviation of a group comprised of N individuals each having standard deviation of d is equal to d divided by the square root of N. 20

For groups of the sizes reported, the standard deviation is on the order of 1/10th line. The probability of the measured improvements occurring by chance is p < .001. That makes the reported results extremely significant.