Macular Degeneration: Symptoms, Causes, And Risk Factors

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss. It actually is caused by the macula deteriorating. This is the small area that is in the back portion of the eye, located in the middle area of the retina.

Macular Degeneration - The Causes, Risks, And Treatment

What Is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is an eye disorder that affects over 10 million people in America. It only affects the central vision of a person. This is the visual field that you see through when you are looking in front of you. This eye disorder has no effect on the peripheral vision, which is the vision you have to the side when you are looking in front of you. Because it does not have a negative effect on your peripheral vision, it does not cause complete blindness. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss. It actually is caused by the macula deteriorating. This is the small area that is in the back portion of the eye, located in the middle area of the retina.

Macular degeneration is a disease that increases in severity over time. At the beginning of the disease, there may not even be any vision problems. If it happens in both eyes at the same time, it might also not be as obvious when it starts.

Types Of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration comes in two different types. Dry macular degeneration is the one that is the most common since it makes up about 85 to 90 percent of those that have the disease. This is caused by drusen, which are yellow deposits that form under the macula. These deposits cause damage to the retina, and as a result, vision is adversely affected. The wet type only is found in 10-15 percent of those that have the disease. This form is caused when either fluid in the eye is leaking or else blood vessels are bleeding. People with this form have a dark spot that they see in their central vision.

Symptoms

There are specific symptoms that happen with the dry form. These might include less vision in the central field and problems seeing when the lights are low, therefore needing brighter lights. It can also cause blurred vision and a problem with being able to recognize different faces. It may also cause straight lines to be distorted when they are in your vision field.

Some of the wet macular degeneration symptoms can have the appearance of the dry symptoms. There are some other things however that can be symptoms. Those might include vision that is hazy. There also may be a spot that is blurry in the vision field. Another thing that happens in the wet form is that the symptoms rapidly get worse.

Causes

Although there is not really a known reason for why some people get macular degeneration, there are some things that can increase your risk of developing this eye disorder. These include things such as age, in particular, being over 65 years old. Caucasians also seem to develop the disease more than other races. Also, if there is a family history, then this can be a risk factor. Being overweight, as well as having some sort of cardiovascular disease is another risk factor.

Treatment

Currently, there is not a cure for macular degeneration. There are some things that can make the progression of it slower, however. For those with the dry version, working with a vision rehabilitation specialist might be a good idea. They are able to teach a person how to deal with the vision loss they are experiencing. Surgery may also be done where telescopic lenses are implanted in the eye so the field of vision is magnified.

For the wet version, working with a low vision rehabilitation specialist is also helpful. The doctor is also able to put medication into your eye that eliminates blood vessels from growing. It might take a number of weeks to notice that this is working. Photodynamic therapy is another option. With this, the doctor takes a specific medication and injects it into the vein of the arm. Then a laser is used to close the leak in the blood vessels. Again, this may take several treatments before noticing any improvement.

Photocoagulation is also used for wet macular degeneration. Laser beams that are high-energy are used to destroy blood vessels that are abnormal. The idea behind this is that they stop the bleeding of the blood vessels and keep from further damage being done to the macula. Some issues with this treatment are it can leave a blind spot in the eye due to scarring. It also does not prevent further abnormal blood vessels from growing, resulting in the need for further treatments.

Reduce The Risks

There are some things that can be done to reduce the risk of this disease from possibly developing in the first place. Basically, as with any health issue, having a healthy lifestyle is very important and can go far in preventing the development of this disease. That means making sure you do not smoke, staying at a healthy weight and getting regular exercise along with a healthy diet. You can not prevent this disease from happening, but with early detection, macular degeneration can certainly progress a lot more slowly.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.