Everything You Need to Know About Macular Degeneration 

Maintaining healthy vision is one of the most critical aspects of day-to-day life. While the science behind various eye diseases improves with each passing year, there are certain eye conditions that we should all know about — especially as we get older.  

Of these, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most important. Keep on reading as we cover everything you need to know about this common eye disease, from causes to symptoms to treatment.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Quick Definition

Impacting millions of people worldwide, individuals over the age of 75 have a 30% chance of developing age-related macular degeneration. Those afflicted with this condition experience changes in the macula — the center of the retina — and may develop blind spots or blurred vision as a result.

Common Symptoms

Because of its generally slow progression, macular degeneration can be difficult to notice until symptoms are severe. Unfortunately, most patients don’t realize that they have developed the disease until they are in the intermediate or advanced stages.

The following symptoms could be signs of AMD:

• Your vision is starting to become blurry, making it difficult to read fine print or see afar.
• Light or dark spots are starting to appear in your vision.
• Shapes with solid lines now appear to be curved.
• Your color vision is changing.

Experiencing any of the above symptoms should prompt medical attention, though regular eye check-ups can detect macular degeneration before symptoms occur. 

Causes

There is no consensus regarding precisely what causes macular degeneration, but evidence shows adults over age 60 are at the highest risk. Other risk factors include:  

• Having a family history of macular degeneration.
• Regularly smoking cigarettes or being exposed to smoke.
• Being diagnosed with preexisting cardiovascular disease.
• Being considered medically obese.
• Being female or fair-skinned
• Excessive sun exposure
• Following a diet high in saturated fat or cholesterol.

Available Treatments

While there is no cure for age-related macular degeneration, we do have treatments to halt or at least slow the process of vision loss.

Common treatments include:

• Laser Therapy: Using high-energy laser light, your eye doctor will eliminate abnormal blood vessels developing within your eye.

• Anti-angiogenesis drugs: There are quite a few versions of these medications, all of which work to prevent abnormal blood vessels from leaking into retina. Fortunately, many patients report some of their vision returning when undergoing treatment.

• Low Vision Aids: These devices assist patients with vision loss by creating larger images of surrounding objects.

• Dietary Changes: Adjusting one’s diet to include vitamin C and E, copper, zinc and beta-carotene can be an effective way to keep eyes healthy and limit further damage. AREDS2 Vitamins can be an important supplement for patients with AMD.

Researchers are always looking for more ways to help those with macular degeneration, but the science still has a long way to go; until then, prevention is the best solution. 

References used to write this piece:

https://allabouteyes.com/need-know-macular-degeneration/

https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/macular-degeneration/age-related-macular-degeneration-overview

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-macular-degeneration/symptoms-causes/syc-20350375

Author

Eye Surgeons Associates Drs. Meiraj A. Siddiqui, Zuhair H. Peracha, Manal H. Peracha-Riyaz, Eric Zuckerman and Leila Siblani are dedicated to excellence in eye care and service. We utilize the latest treatment methods and procedures, including routine eye care, cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, retinal disease management, diabetic eye treatment, and eyelid surgery.