
Macular degneration deals with age related changes in the eye. Watch this video to learn more from Dr. Manvi Maker about macular degeneration.
Macular degneration deals with age related changes in the eye. Watch this video to learn more from Dr. Manvi Maker about macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is an age-related vision problem and the leading cause of blindness in adults over age 60.
Today, findings show that macular degeneration affects about 12 million people in the United States. This is about one in four older adults. Worldwide, macular degeneration affects about 50 million adults.
Macular degeneration is the result of the breakdown or deterioration of the macula, the central part of the retina. In the eye, the macula works to control central vision. In fact, without the macula, you could not read a book, drive a car, recognize colors or see the intricate details on paintings.
With aging, the chances of macular degeneration increase. Also, people who smoke have a higher chance of getting macular degeneration as those who do not smoke. Many feel that long-term exposure to sunlight contributes to this condition. Heredity and nutrition are also thought to play a role.
Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may be treated with laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and injections into the eye, although there is no cure for wet AMD. Dry macular degeneration has no effective treatment.
Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition and the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness among people age 60 and older. It causes damage to the macula, a small area near the center of the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp, central vision, which lets us see objects that are straight ahead. Peripheral vision may still allow some sight “out of the corner of your eye,” but this vision is often not sharp enough for many normal activities. The National Institutes of Health defines two types of age-related macular degeneration:
For people over 50, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss. About 90% of macular degeneration patients have the dry form, which is caused by deposits on the macula, an area of the retina. The wet form is caused by irregular blood vessel growth. Both of these types can cause significant vision loss, including blindness.