Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Introduction

With age people faced many problems and one of the most common diseases above 60 people faced is loss of vision. Initially, everyone thought of their poor eye vision is caused because of cataracts or glaucoma but it is not the case for everyone. In fact, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the biggest reason for loss of vision in adults crossing 65. AMD harms your eyesight and makes you lose your central vision. You won’t be able to see the detailing of anything whether you are close to it or too far from it. Macular degeneration frequently causes visual loss; people also suffer from blurred vision, and sometimes things look twisted and warped. The black spots started appearing in the center of the eye. Let’s discuss what exactly happens when one gets this disease. The retina in the eye is a kind that is located at the back of the eye; it collects light and transfers it to the brain for processing.

The macular (center of the retina) is the specialized region that is accountable for crisp, centered vision and vision acuity. Age-Related Macular Degeneration occurred when the minute, yellow protein deposits known as drusen accumulate underneath the macula. With age, more drusen accumulate and block the way for the macular to receive the nutrients it needed and cause macular degeneration and vision loss.

Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There are two most common types of AMD;

• Dry AMD
• Wet AMD

Dry AMD: Around 80% of people in old age have dry AMD. It happens when parts of the macular start getting thin and because of it, drusen grows which blocks the way of protein that is needed for humans for clear eyesight. Doctors consider this type of AMD incurable yet.

Wet AMD: This type of AMD is not much common but it is severe as compared to dry AMD. In wet AMD an unusual growth of blood vessels under the retina is observed. These vessels discharge blood or other liquids that damages the macula. Wet AMD causes more serious vision loss than dry AMD and takes the person towards blindness.

Reasons for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Every disease becomes severe if not treated on time and a majority of people don’t pay much attention to health. Several reasons cause AMD which are as follows;

• Obesity
• Smoking cigarettes
• Excessive use of high saturated fat in the diet
• Hypertension
• Age factor

Some people get this disease in their genes or have a history of AMD in their family. Moreover, heart patients are also at risk of having AMD over time because of high cholesterol levels. It is very important to take good care of yourself at every stage of life to ensure a healthy life.

Symptoms

In the initial stage, AMD affects the center, sharpness, and color vision. The most obvious sign one will notice is weak night vision. AMD patients face difficulty in reading because their vision of seeing objects just in front of them deteriorates. Because of AMD, they won’t be able to identify the color and almost every color seems the same to them. Another symptom one can notice is that people with AMD won’t be able to see the straight lines as it appears curvy and dark. They will see the blind spots in their vision. You can test people by showing them a grid called Amsler Grid with one eye at a time. If the person can see straight lines curves or dark then that person is suffering from AMD.

Treatment

As I have mentioned that there are two types of AMD, dry and wet so each will be treated differently. For Dry AMD patients, the doctor suggests taking a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables and taking a diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids because it improves poor vision. For rapid improvement, you can also take vitamin supplements prescribed by the doctor. You should avoid smoking as well because it causes many diseases.

For wet AMD patients, the treatment is different because it is severe. In most cases, injections of medicine into the eye are required to prevent blood vessels from developing. These injections are usually given every 4-6 weeks by retina experts.

Final Verdict

Vision is a blessing of God and we should protect ourselves from all kinds of ailments. Taking a healthy diet is beneficial for our health and we must also avoid things that are harmful to us and the environment as well.