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Macular Degeneration Macular degeneration is a serious disease that may result in loss of central vision. It occurs when there is damage or breakdown of the macula of the eye. The macula is a small area at the back of the eye that allows us to see fine details clearly. Macula degeneration makes close work - like threading a needle - difficult or impossible.
When the macula doesn't function correctly, we experience blurriness or darkness in the center of our vision. Although macula degeneration reduces vision in the central part of the retina, it does not affect the eye's side, or peripheral, vision. Macular degeneration alone does not result in total blindness. Most people continue to have some useful vision and are able to take care of themselves.
Cause The exact cause of macular degeneration is unknown. Many older people possibly develop macular degeneration as part of the body's natural aging process. Risk Factors
Symptoms Macular degeneration can cause different symptoms in different people. Sometimes only one eye loses vision while the other eye continues to see well for many years. The condition may be hardly noticeable in its early stages. But when both eyes are affected, reading and close work can become difficult. You may experience one or more of the following symptoms.
Normal retina Early macula changes Advanced macular changes
Types of macular degeneration The two most common types of age-related macular degeneration are "dry" (atrophic) and "wet" (exudative). "Dry" macular degeneration - Most people have "dry" macular degeneration. It is caused by aging and thinning of the tissues of the macula. Vision loss is usually gradual. "Wet" macular degeneration - "Wet" macular degeneration accounts for about 10% of all cases. It results when abnormal blood vessels form at the back of the eye. These new blood vessels leak fluid or blood and blur the central vision. Vision loss may be rapid and severe.
Many people do not realize that they have a macula problem until blurred vision becomes obvious. Your ophthalmologist can detect earlier stages of macular degeneration during a medical eye examination that includes the following:
Sometimes a special photograph, called a fluorescein angiogram, is taken to find abnormal blood vessels under the retina. Fluorescent dye is injected into your arm and your eye is photographed as the dye passes through the blood vessels in the back of the eye.
Treatment Despite ongoing research, there is not yet a cure for the condition. Nutritional supplements may slow macular degeneration. Treatment of the more common "dry" form of macular degeneration focuses on helping a person find ways to cope with visual impairment. Various low vision optical devices can help people to continue with many of their favorite activities. These devices may include:
A wide range of support services, rehabilitation programs and devices are available to help people with macular degeneration to maintain a satisfying lifestyle. People with "wet" macular degeneration can also benefit from low-vision optical devices. But "wet" macular degeneration can usually be treated in its early stages with laser surgery. Laser photocoagulation is used to destroy the abnormal blood vessels under the retina. The focused beam of light seals the leaking blood vessels that damage the macula. Although this procedure cannot cure macular degeneration, it can slow the rate of vision loss. Laser photocoagulation can leave a small, permanently dark "blind spot" at the point of laser contact, but the procedure can preserve more sight overall. Photo-Dynamic Therapy (with Visudyne) and Lucentis are also two new approaches to preserving sight. How can you protect your sight from macular degeneration?
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