What is Macular Degeneration?
The major cause of serious irreversible loss of view among individuals above 60 years of age is macular degeneration. It happens once the tiny central area of the retina, recognized as the macula, worsens. The retina is at the back of the eye, which senses the light. Since the disease grows as an individual age it is usually called as age-related macular degeneration.
Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration:
- Dry form – The existence of yellow deposits called drusen in the macula describes the dry macular degeneration. Some tiny druses may not change the sight, but they can dim or disturb the sight that individuals discover more noticeable when they are reading as they expand in volume and in amount. In further phases of dry macular degeneration, an atrophy or death of the tissue results in a thinning of the light-sensitive layer of the cells of the macula. Patients might have blind spots in the middle of the vision in the atrophic form of dry macular degeneration. Patients lose central sight in developed phases.
- Wet form – Macular degeneration of wet forms is defined by the development of the choroid under the macula of abnormal blood vessels and this is know as choroidal neovascularization. Blood and fluid leak into the retina, triggering visual distortion which makes straight lines look wavy and blind points, as well as lack of core sight. Such abnormal blood vessels and their bleeding ultimately lead to a scar which causes permanent central vision loss.
What are the symptoms leading to doctor’s recommending Treatment for Macular Degeneration?
- Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
- Visual distortions
- Decreased intensity or brightness of colors
- Increased difficulty adapting to low light levels
Evaluations for Macular Degeneration
- Fluorescein angiography
- Indocyanine Green Angiography
- Optical Coherence Tomography
Treatment for Macular Degeneration
There are various options:
- Anti-angiogenesis Drugs – These drugs prevent the growth of new blood vessels and the leakage of abnormally wet macular degenerating blood vessels within the eye. The treatment has changed this condition significantly and many patients have recovered their perceived regained vision.
- Laser Therapy – High-energy laser light is often used to kill or harm abnormal, macular degenerative blood vessels.
- Photodynamic Laser Therapy – Two-step treatments with a light-sensitive medicines for abnormal vessel damage. A doctor inserts the medicine into the bloodstream so that the abnormal blood vessels in the eye can absorb it. A cold laser will then be shined in the eye to enable the medication and damage the abnormal vessels in the blood.
- Low Vision Aids – Devices with special lenses or electronic devices producing larger images of close-up items.
