Age Related Macular
Degeneration
Understanding Age Related Macular Degeneration Syndromes
& Treatments
As the name suggests, Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)
is an eye disease which is primarily triggered by age. Generally,
there are two types of ARMD, wet and dry and either one can
affect one or both eyes. The dry form is more common, usually
happening in 90% of the cases. It's slow to develop and vision
loss is ongoing, although not necessarily serious. And the
wet form is much more damaging, causing rapid and severe vision
loss.
Even though vision loss is not complete, it is major enough
for an individual to be considered legally blind and for quality
of life to be severely affected.
Vision loss is not total since ARMD affects the central vision,
not the peripheral vision. When the macula is injured, a person
cannot create a clearly detailed image. Since the macula is
in the center of the retina, central vision will be affected.
The macula is a group of nerve cells which make use of light
to create and send images to the retina.
Symptoms
Those affected by ARMD will see a spot in their vision which
is clearly indistinguishable. For instance, when looking directly
at an image of a person, legs and head will be clearly visible,
but the body itself, the part right in the center of vision,
will appear to be covered with an area that appears either
empty or dark. Other than blurred vision, straight lines may
seem wavy and a person may not be able to distinguish images
that should be familiar.
Who is at risk?
Age is a major risk factor of ARMD, with the majority of
the cases developing in individuals aged 60 and over. Unfortunately,
hereditary and the environment can also trigger the start
of the dry form of this eye disease. Females usually develop
ARMD more often than men.
Free radicals cause much of the cell damage which happens
inside the retina therefore cigarette smoking and hypertension
raise the risks of developing ARMD. Those who do not have
a nutritionally-balanced diet may also be at risk since they
are not providing the body with the antioxidant protection
it needs to inhibit the damage caused by free radicals.
Treatment
It's difficult to identify ARMD. The dry form is slow to
develop, and generally develops only in one eye. Then, the
unaffected eye compensates for the damaged eye, so symptoms
are not really distinguishable.
Yellow deposits known as drusen on the retina can usually
be observed during an eye exam. The eye chart and dilating
the pupils are two methods of detection. When wet ARMD is
assumed, the eye doctor will use an Amsler grid or fluorescein
angiography.
Sadly, no treatment can restore this type of eye damage.
Glasses will not help, but vision aids and counseling will
help a person adjust to life with a reduced vision loss.
Laser surgery treatments and photodynamic therapy have had
limited success on wet Age Related Macular Degeneration.
| 
