Eye Health 101 – Understanding Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a medical condition that causes the loss of vision on the “macula” or the center of the visual field. The loss of vision is caused by atrophy or degeneration in the macular area of the retina. The disease is referred to as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) because it usually affects people above 50 years old.

The two types of the disease are Dry AMD and Wet AMD. In the dry form, drusen or debris build up on the eye and cause the detachment of the retina from its blood supply. On the other hand, wet AMD or the “exudative” type occurs when blood vessels swell behind the retina. Between the two, wet AMD is more severe and risky of getting blind. However, both of them are painless and the onset of the symptoms may take some time. It usually takes an eye doctor to diagnose the condition.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration Symptoms and Signs

At the early stages of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, most of the symptoms are hardly perceivable. Often, it is the patient alone who can tell that something is wrong with their eyes. The most common symptom is having a blurred vision. Exudative AMD patients suffer from noticeable onset of vision loss. On the other hand, dry AMD patients do not notice loss of vision.

The most common symptoms of macular degeneration are the loss of central vision and blind spots. It can get difficult to recognize faces and impossible to read small text. However, the patient can still perform some tasks because peripheral vision remains functional.

Drusen accumulations may become visible to an external observer. When looking closely, one can see white or yellow patches in the eyeball. In extreme cases, drusen can be noticeably large and widespread. AMD does not really change eye color, but it may appear so if the drusen the covers it are so many and concentrated. This extracellular matter in the eyeball can cause blind spots in the patient’s vision.

The patient may also find difficulty in differentiating colors. The concept of contrast and identifying hues can be difficult. Light colors from light colors and dark ones from dark ones can be troublesome to discern. The patient may also feel visually impaired or temporarily blind longer after being exposed to very bright light.

Central vision is the most affected portion by AMD. You probably have macular degeneration if you can read well through your peripheral vision but not by directly staring at your readings. Metamorphosia or distorted vision may also develop. People with metamorphosia may have impressions that straight lines seem curving and grid lines appear wavy.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

Old age is the primary risk factor of developing Macular Degeneration. 1 out of 10 people who are 66-74 years old are positive of the disease. The number of cases increases by 3 out of 10 for patients of age 75-85.

Often tied with aging, drusen build-up is the most common cause of AMD. A druse – singular for drusen – is an accumulation of white or yellowish extracellular material in the eye. Usually, drusen accumulate in the eye’s Bruch membrane. More than 80% of people above 40 have drusen but it doesn’t affect vision. However, large lumps of drusen may build up and harden on important regions of vision on the eyeball. This may cause blind spots and degradation of central vision.

A 2008 study in Southampton also showed that AMD is both hereditary and genetic. Scientists have pinpointed a gene that likely causes the disease. Normally, all people have a 12% risk of developing AMD. However, people with relatives or predecessors that have developed AMD have 50% risks.

Certain body conditions may also increase the risks of accumulating druse and damaging macular vision. Obesity and high cholesterol are leading risk factors. People who suffer from hypertension and those who are often subjected to stress are also more susceptible to losing their macular vision. These conditions increase the body’s propensity to release lipofuscin – a symptom of AMD.

Finally, Tobacco smokers have 2-3 times the risk of non-smokers for developing macular degeneration. Experts say that there are chemicals in tobacco that can be toxic to the retina. These toxins can lead to irreparable damage to important parts of the eye. This finding makes smoking one of the most modifiable risk factor when it comes to macular degeneration prevention.

Nutrition and Macular Degeneration

Studies show that there is a correlation between nutrition and the progression of AMD. There are non-drug interventions that can prevent or retard the effects of Macular Degeneration. For example, the person can increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients can reduce the progression of AMD at its early stages. Foods rich in omega-3 include soya, sardines, tuna and walnut.

In conjunction with omega-3, the person must decrease intake of foods with high glycemic index (GI). High GI foods contain carbohydrates that greatly affect blood levels. Decrease your intake extruded breakfast cereals, white bread, glucose and maltose-rich foods. Instead, eat more of low GI foods such as legumes, whole grains and most fruits and vegetables. Taking low GI foods will also help control your weight and reduce the risk factors of suffering the condition.

There are also evidences that support the effectiveness of some carotenoids on preventing blindness from AMD. Namely, these carotenoids are lutein and zeaxanthin. A 6-year study in the National Eye Institute of Maryland showed that lutein can prevent the buildup of deposits in the macula. These nutrients can be found in eggs, spinach and other green vegetables.

People should not take much of vitamin and mineral supplements for the sole purpose of preventing macular degeneration. Clinical studies show that intake of eye vitamins does not decrease the risks of suffering the disease.

Low Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration

Until recently, there is no known permanent cure for macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration treatment involves the removal of drusen and restoring the position of the retina by laser. There are also new injectable drugs for wet macular degeneration treatments. They have to be injected into the vitreous humor of the eye to reverse the growth of the blood vessels and improve vision. However, the injection must be repeated at least once a month.

The most common solution for macular degeneration is low vision aids. These are non-invasive equipment that helps AMD patients to continue with their lives normally. The most common tools are the telescopic camera and monitor. These help reading and writing by projecting textbooks, documents and paper to a large screen. Through the large display, the patient can use his/her peripheral vision to write and read clearly.

There are also portable handheld telescopes that the patients can bring anywhere. These “monoculars” allow the clear viewing of distant objects by magnifying 2.5-10 times. There are absorptive lenses that can be used with prescription eyeglasses. These special lenses eliminate harmful rays from the sun and dramatically reduces glare. These features increase contrast and allow the patient to discern between colors more easily.

Nowadays, voice-operated and talking gadgets are important for people with advanced macular degeneration. For example, voice-operated phones can tell them the time without the need for reading or finding a magnifier. Near-blind people can also create documents simply by dictating the words to a voice-operated phone or computer.