When a chronic eye condition causes the loss of central vision due to the damage to the macula (central part of the retina), the condition is most commonly referred to as Macular Degeneration. The most common form is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and is normally found in individuals older than 50 years. Individuals with Macular Degeneration may find it difficult to read, recognise faces as well as drive. However, vision beyond the central area of one's gaze allows them to continue with other daily activities.
Types of Macular Degeneration
There are two types of Macular Degeneration:
Dry Macular Degeneration - characterised by yellow fatty deposits (drusen) in the retina, some vision loss may occur (sometimes there is a blind spot in the central portion of your vision), but rarely causes severe vision impairment or blindness
Wet Macular Degeneration - the more serious form in which new blood vessels grow underneath the retina may leak blood or fluid, causing your vision to become wavy or distorted, and you may have blind spots. Although Wet Macular Degeneration can cause severe vision loss, it rarely leads to total blindness and you will retain some side (peripheral) vision.
Causes
The typical culprits of Macular Degeneration are:
-Age
-Family history
-High blood pressure (Hypertension)
-High cholesterol levels
-Lack of certain vitamins and minerals (antioxidants)
-Long-term unprotected exposure of the eye to sunlight
-Smoking tobacco
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms tend to appear early. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience:
-Difficulty reading, watching tv and recognising faces
-Loss of central vision
-One, or more, blind spots
-Straight lines appearing wavy
Treatment
At Gleneagles Hospitals, we offer several types of treatment options for Macular Degeneration depending on the severity of the condition:
Drug Therapy — drugs can be injected into the eye to seal off any new blood vessels
Laser Photocoagulation — surgical procedure involving the application of a hot laser
Photodynamic Therapy — low-energy (cold) laser and a light-sensitive drug are used to seal off any new blood vessels
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