Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is an age-related chronic eye disease, typically affecting people who are 65 years or older. Research also suggests there is a genetic component to the disease. Risk factors include eating a diet high in saturated fat (found in foods like meat, butter, and cheese), being overweight, smoking, having high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or heart disease, and having a family history of macular degeneration.
The macula is the small central area in the retina that is responsible for the sharp central vision needed to read, drive or see fine details. Macular Degeneration occurs when the macula deteriorates. Although macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, it can be a source of significant visual disability. It can affect both eyes or just one eye.
Macular Degeneration occurs in two forms – Dry or Wet. Dry Macular Degeneration is the more common form of disease.
Dry Macular Degeneration
People with Dry Macular Degeneration may have drusen, pigment abnormalities, or geographic atrophy (an area of cell loss in the retina). Geographic atrophy in Dry Macular Degeneration can cause loss of central vision. Medications can be injected into your eye to slow how fast the geographic atrophy progresses. The eye is numbed prior to the injections so there is typically minimal discomfort. You may undergo repeated injections every 25 – 60 days. Dark leafy greens, yellow fruits and vegetables, fish, and a balanced, nutrient-rich diet have been shown beneficial for people with Macular Degeneration.
Dry Macular Degeneration is normally monitored with routine dilated exams. You may be asked to monitor an Amsler Grid at home once a week to check for any changes. The amsler grid is a graph made up of dark, straight lines that create a square. To use the grid, you will check one eye at a time while wearing your usual glasses. If any distortion, waviness, broken lines or missing areas are noticed, you should notify your eye doctor promptly.
video: Dry Macular Degeneration
Dry Macular Degeneration usually progresses slowly, and many people with this condition can live relatively normal, productive lives, especially if only one eye is affected. Your doctor may recommend taking an eye vitamin to help decrease the risk of developing the more severe type of Macular Degeneration.
Wet Macular Degeneration
Wet Macular Degeneration is the less common form, but much more serious. Wet Macular Degeneration is when new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These vessels may leak blood or other fluids, causing scarring of the macula. Vision loss is faster with Wet Macular Degeneration than Dry Macular Degeneration. The earlier that Wet Macular Degeneration is diagnosed and treated, the better chance you have of preserving some or much of your central vision.
Treatment may help slow the progression and reduce the amount of vision lost. Medications may help stop growth of these new blood vessels by blocking VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) which is a protein found in the eye. These medications are injected directly into your eye. The eye is numbed prior to the injections so there is typically minimal discomfort. You may undergo repeated injections every four weeks to maintain the beneficial effect of the medication. In some instances, you may partially recover vision as the blood vessels shrink and the fluid under the retina absorbs.
Unfortunately, even after treatment, Wet Macular Degeneration can recur. Because of this, you should test your own vision regularly and follow the recommendations of your eye doctor. Proper and timely treatment can slow the rate of vision loss and may even improve vision.
video: Wet Macular Degeneration
