Archived Macular Degeneration Articles
What Is Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a common eye disease of aging that gradually causes one to lose their central vision. The macula is found in the center of the retina. The retina is the tissue that lines the inside of the eye and is involved in recording the light that we see. Most of the light that enters the eye gets focused mainly onto the macula. So over a lifetime, the macula can be exposed to a high amount of potentially damaging light rays. After too much exposure the macula can actually start to deteriorate leading to vision loss. Consequently, common tasks such as driving a card, reading the newspaper, or recognizing faces can start to become difficult to perform. Macular degeneration comes in two variants. The majority of people with macular degeneration have the dry variant which is the less aggressive form where light sensitive cells of the macula deteriorate and leave behind a dry material of cell death called drusen. Slow progressive central vision loss is associated with the dry variant. One out of every ten with the dry form may develop the wet variant. The wet variant is aggressive and it is associated with bleeding and swelling damage to the macula. Visual distortion and severe vision loss is often associated with the wet variant. Early detection of macular degeneration is the best way to limit its effects on one’s vision as certain vitamin and mineral formulations have been shown to slow down the progression of the condition. A dilated screening eye examination by an Ophthalmologist is highly recommended for higher risk individuals who include those over middle age, females, Caucasians, and anyone with a history of smoking or family history of the condition.
New Therapy for Wet Macular Degeneration
Macugen and Lucentis belong to a new class of medications that will revolutionize the management of wet macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration is a devastating disease that can rob us of our vision as we get older. In this disease, leaky blood vessels invade and destroy the macula. Without a healthy macula, we lose our ability to see straight ahead. The current treatment for macular degeneration involves use of lasers to burn away the leaky blood vessels. The unfortunate side effect of this treatment is surrounding healthy macula tissue may become damaged in the process. Macugen and Lucentis work by a more practical approach via turning off the signal that cause the leaky blood vessels to grow in the first place. As a result the unwanted blood vessels regress leading to the possibility that vision may both stabilize and improve. For macugen and Lucentis to be most effective, wet macular degeneration has to be detected early in the course of the disease. The best means for early detection is to see your Ophthalmologist regular and often especially if you currently have the dry form of the disease or if you have a family member who has had the disease.
New Therapy For Dry Macular Degeneration
Dry macular degeneration is a very common eye disease that affects people over 50 years of age. It involves deterioration of macula cells that are essential for our central vision. Severe cases of the disease often leave individuals without the ability to live independently on their own. Until recently, there wasn’t really anything that could be done to slow down this devastating disease. But research into the mechanism of the disease has led to a promising new therapy called rheopheresis. In the rheopheresis process, impurities such as large cholesterol molecules are filtered out of the blood. Without these circulation-clogging impurities, blood is allowed to more easily reach the macula of the eye providing it with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to prevent deterioration with age. Coupling rheophresis with a proper diet of important vitamins and minerals may very well give those with dry macular degeneration a better chance of maintaining functional vision. So if you are over 50 years of age or have a parent with macular degeneration, then it is advised to see your ophthalmologist for an evaluation. The earlier macular degeneration is discovered and managed, the better the chance for keeping good vision throughout life so that we can enjoy watching our Steelers play.
