Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a process of deterioration or breakdown of the macula. The macula is a small area in the retina at the back of the eye that allows you to see fine details clearly for people to complete tasks such as reading and driving. When the macula does not function appropriately, your central vision can be affected by blurriness, dark areas or distortion. Most elderly people develop macular degeneration as part of the natural aging process. There are different kinds of macular problems, but the most common is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Exactly why it develops is not known, and no treatment has been uniformly effective. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in Caucasians over 65.
There are two forms:
- Wet- It results when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the retina at the back of the eye. These new blood vessels leak fluid or blood and blur central vision. Vision loss may be rapid and severe.
- Dry- It is caused by aging and thinning of the tissues of the macula. Vision loss is usually gradual.
Symptoms:
- Words on a page look blurred
- A dark or empty area appears in the centre of vision
- Straight lines look distorted
Many people do not realize that they have a macular problem until blurred vision becomes obvious. Our doctors can discover the early stages of AMD during a routine eye examination that includes ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography and a vision test.
Known treatments include: Anti-VEGF
Drugs that block the trouble-causing chemicals in the body, reducing the growth of abnormal blood vessels and slowing their leakage. Laser Surgery
Certain types of wet AMD can be treated with laser surgery, a brief outpatient procedure that uses a focused beam of light to slow or stop leaking blood vessels that damage the macula.
Nutritional Supplements
Antioxidant vitamins and zinc may reduce the impact of AMD in some people. It is very important to remember that Vitamin Supplements are not a cure for AMD, nor will they restore vision that you have already lost from the disease.
PDT
Photodynamic therapy uses a combination of a special drug and laser treatment to slow or stop leaking blood vessels.
These procedures may preserve more sight overall, though they are not cures that restore vision to normal Despite advanced medical treatment, many people with macular degeneration still experience some vision loss.
