MACULAR DEGENERATION
Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that causes central vision loss.
- Central vision is what is seen while looking straight ahead.
- It is also known as age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
- The macula is a small area in the center of the retina, the back part of the eye which transmits information to the brain.
- The macula is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and controls most of the important vision tasks like reading, driving, recognizing faces or colors, viewing road signs, and seeing objects in fine detail.
- When the cell of the macula deteriorates, images are not received correctly resulting in blurred vision or no vision.
- Macular degeneration does not result in complete blindness because it doesn’t affect peripheral vision.
- Peripheral vision is what is seen on the side while looking straight ahead
- Macular degeneration mostly affects older people. It affected 6.2 million people globally in 2015.
- There exist two types of macular degeneration: wet and dry macular degeneration
- Dry macular degeneration is the most common type and affects about 85 – 90% of people suffering from the condition.
- This type develops gradually and occurs due to the presence of drusen under the macula. This causes damage to the retina and vision loss.
- Wet macular degeneration affects about 10-15% of people with the condition and occurs as a result of abnormal development of blood vessels under the retina and macula. It is a more serious form and can result in severe vision loss.
CAUSES
The specific cause of macular degeneration is not known but it has been linked to a number of risk factors. These includes:
- Aging
- A family history of the condition
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Fat intake
- Exposure to sunlight
- High cholesterol
- Race: Caucasians are more likely to develop the condition than African-American, or Latinos
SYMPTOMS
Macular degeneration is a progressive disease that gets worse over time. Symptoms may include:
- Blurriness
- The need for brighter lighting when reading
- Difficulty recognizing faces
- Difficulty adaption to low lights
- A reduction in central vision
- Trouble discerning colors
- A distortion of straight lines in the field of vision. Straight lines appear wavy
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
DIAGNOSIS
Series of test can be conducted to diagnose macular degeneration
- Your doctor can dilate your eyes with special eye drops and then examine the back of your eye for signs of fluid, or blood
- Amsler grid: You are asked to look at a special grid that consists of horizontal and vertical lines. If some of the lines on the grid appear broke, faded or distorted, it can be a sign of macular degeneration.
- To see what is happening in your retina, your doctor may carry out fluorescein angiography. A fluorescein (special dye) is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. As the dye travels to your blood vessels, a special camera takes the photo of the retina as the dye circulates through the eyes’ blood vessels. This image shows problems and changes in your blood vessels and retina
- Your doctor may request an optical coherence tomography. This is another way to look closely at your retina. This imaging test provides a detailed image of the macula. It shows if the macula has become thicker, thinner or changed in any way.
TREATMENT
It is important to have annual eye exams even if you have a normal vision.
No cure exists for the condition but there are treatment options available to slow the progression of the disease.
No medical or surgical treatment is available for dry macular degeneration. However, a vision rehabilitation specialist may be recommended to teach you how to adjust and cope with vision loss.
For wet MD, medications can help to stop and sometimes reverse the development of blood vessels’
Thermal laser coagulation and photodynamic therapy may also help with treatment