Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the US. The “wet” form of the disease is responsible for 90% of severe loss of vision. Each year there are 200,000 new cases of the disease in the US alone.

Patients in their mid 70’s are most affected by this disease of the eye and it rarely strikes those under the age of 50. Though wet macular degeneration strikes people of all ethnic backgrounds, it is more prevalent in Caucasians.

There are two forms of macular degeneration; wet and dry. Let’s learn more about these forms, treatments and symptoms.

Dry Macular Degeneration

Dry macular degeneration is the most common type of the disease. When you suffer from dry macular degeneration your optometrist will look into your eye and see that the retina has become distorted, pigmented or thinned. Once the retina has disappeared, it can never be reversed. It’s very similar to the retina having a hole in the center.

Dry macular degeneration is a very slow progressive disease. Patients lose central vision at a slow pace and most patients retain most of their vision. Dry macular degeneration doesn’t usually cause blindness, but does substantially decrease the central vision.

Wet Macular Degeneration

This disease is a far worse form than the “dry” type. People with wet macular degeneration develop abnormal blood cells under the retina of their eye. These blood cells are like wires that have bad insulation. They leak fluid, blood and fats into the retina. When eye-care professionals look into the eye of patients with this disease, they see fluid, fats and/or red blood cells.

Like any other wound, the blood and fluid will dry up eventually, but instead of healing, a scar is left in the macula of the eye. This causes the patient to have a black or gray spot in the central vision. Then, after multiple episodes and layers of scar tissue, the eye loses even more of its vision. More occurrences of leakage into the macula allow the disease progress quickly. Treatment cannot repair new scar formation and only gives temporary help to patients.

Causes

Both types of macular degeneration may be caused by a number of contributing factors such as age, genetics, poor nutrition, smoking and exposure of the eye to the sun.

Symptoms

Loss of central vision is the most common symptom of macular degeneration. Patients with the “dry” form will experience a gradual loss. Those with the “wet” type may experience a sudden loss of central vision.

Patients may have trouble reading or accomplishing tasks that require seeing detail when there’s been no previous history of these problems. Other symptoms include distorted vision or feeling that they are seeing straight or wavy lines that don’t disappear.

Detection

Eye care professionals are usually the people who detect and diagnose age-related macular degeneration. If they suspect a patient has the disease, they can confirm it by an Amsler grid test, fundus photography and other vision testing.

Treatment

There is no proven treatment for “dry” macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration can, in some cases, be helped with laser treatment that seals bleeding or leaking blood vessels. Laser treatment can’t correct loss of vision, but may help to prevent further loss. Talk to your ophthalmologist to find out if laser treatment is right for you.

Recent treatment with photodynamic laser therapy has stopped abnormal blood vessel growth in some patients suffering from wet macular degeneration. Be sure to visit your optometrist annually once you turn 50. If macular degeneration is detected in the early stages treatment may be successful. Patients who are diagnosed with the disease should monitor their condition at home by using an Amsler grid.

Nutrition

Studies have proven a strong link between nutrition and macular degeneration. Patients with diets high in fruits and vegetables, especially lettuce and greens have less chance of developing the disease. Studies are now being conducted to determine if vitamins and supplements can stop progression of macular degeneration.

Tips

If you’ve been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, it’s imperative that you change your lifestyle. Here are a few tips to help you make the transition and keep your eye’s retina healthy.

• Take a zinc supplement. Ask your eye-care professional to recommend the one that is right for you. Zinc, lutein and antioxidants are all found in the retina. Most patients who develop age-related macular degeneration lack these nutrients.

• Be sure to monitor vision at home on a daily basis, using an Amsler grid.

• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from dangerous ultra violet rays. Sunglasses should have high UV protection. This prevents damage to the pigment cells of the retina.

• Eat lots of green, leafy vegetables such as turnip greens, beet greens, and all types of lettuce, spinach, collard greens and kale.

• Get lots of cardiovascular exercise. This will improve the body’s health and improve circulation.

• Those who have macular degeneration need to “butt out.” Smoking causes poor circulation and decreases the efficient function of the retina’s blood vessels.

• Use halogen lights, especially when reading. These produce less glare and disperse light more evenly than traditional light bulbs.

• Use a magnifying glass to read. This makes the print larger so it is more easily seen.

• Check out audio or large print books from the local library to save wear and tear on the eyes.

• Talk to a specialist in low vision. They’re specifically trained to improve quality of life for patients who have experienced vision loss. They can recommend a wide variety of resources and practical tips to make life easier.

Remember

• Macular degeneration is usually associated with age.

• Macular degeneration effects central vision.

• Smoking increases the risk of macular degeneration.

• Use an Amsler grid to monitor vision loss at home.

Amsler Grid

The Amsler grid can be found on hundreds of websites on the Internet. Print one off for use at home.

Use

• Be sure the room has good lighting.

• Put on glasses, if needed.

• Hold the chart 14 to 16 inches away from your face.

• Cover one eye.

• Look directly at the center dot.

• Note any fuzziness, waves, gray areas and differences in size.

• Repeat with other eye.

• Report any changes to your ophthalmologist.

Research

St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute in Tarpon Springs, Florida, along with many other facilities across the country continue to do research on both wet and dry macular degeneration. Ask your eye-care professional for news on the latest developments.