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Macular Degeneration
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Macular degeneration (or age-related macular degeneration, AMD) leads to a gradual loss of vision. Macula, a small circular membrane at the center of the retina is light sensitive and responsible for our central vision. Degeneration of the macula leads to a deterioration of our central vision causing dark spots and cloudiness. This disease is the most common cause of blindness in people over 50. However, as it is painless, patients only experience bent or warped images, dark, foggy or light spots, and words on a page may appear distorted or incomplete.
As our arteries harden with age, the delicate structures of the eye begin to lose some of their function, thus leading to the oxidation of the macula. Smoking, cardiovascular disease, exposure to sunlight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or poor diet, as well as heredity may aggravate this condition.
By far the most prevalent, dry-type AMD is caused by the shrinking and pigmentation of the retinal tissue. Developing slowly, this type of the AMD is usually diagnosed only at its advanced stage.
Wet-type, or neo-vascular AMD is caused by the over-growth of new blood vessels behind the macula. These vessels can easily break and bleed onto the macula. Developing much quicker than the other one, wet-type AMD is responsible for almost all cases of the AMD-caused blindness.
We encourage you to wear sunglasses and maintain a healthy lifestyle with a diet rich in dark green vegetables to help preventing the disease. A regular eye examination is highly recommended.
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