Macular degeneration or age related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in people who are 60 and older.
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| Pic credit: Vision Centre |
It is a disease that destroys your sharp central vision.
You need central vision to see objects clearly and to do tasks such as reading and driving.
It affects the macula the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail.
It does not hurt but it causes cells in the macula to die.
There are two types:
Wet and Dry
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| Pic credit: Clay eye physicians |
1. Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula these new blood vessels often leak blood and fluid.
Wet AMD damages the macula quickly blurred vision is a common early symptom.
2. Dry AMD happens when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down. You'll gradually lose your central vision.
A common early symptom is that straight lines appear crooked.
Regular comprehensive eye exams can detect macular degeneration before the disease causes vision loss.
Treatment can slow vision loss. It does not restore vision.
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| Pic credit: Thailand medical News |
AMD: Risk Factors
One of the most important risk factor is increasing age, leading to an exponential rise in the risk of acquiring this condition.
Being of caucasian ethnicity is also another risk factor for getting age-related macular degeneration having blue colored eyes is another risk factor.
Having a family history of this condition. Particularly if you have a first degree relative such as a parent that has this condition you're at a higher risk for also getting this condition.
Smoking is another risk factor along with alcohol consumption.
Hypertension or High blood pressure can also be another risk factor.
Obesity and diabetes can be a risk factor as well and then we can see that increased sun exposure can also increase the risk for age-related macular degeneration later on in life.
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