Macular degeneration occurs when part of the retina known as the macula becomes damaged, leading to central vision becoming fuzzy and making fine details difficult to see clearly whether you’re close up or far away from objects being observed. However, this does not affect side vision (peripheral).

Visudyne is an eyedrop medication prescribed to patients suffering from wet macular degeneration that when taken in combination with painless laser light can destroy abnormal blood vessels under the retina and thus improve vision for some individuals with wet AMD.

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration refers to deterioration or breakdown of the macula, an area located within your retina at the back of your eye. A common problem among those aged 50+, it often results in blurriness, dark areas or distortion of central vision; making reading or driving difficult but usually leaving peripheral (side) vision unaffected.

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that diminishes your ability to see fine details clearly, often over time. While its causes remain unknown, age and genetics may play a part. There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet.

Dry AMD occurs when yellow deposits called drusen build up under your retina, without necessarily leading to vision loss; they could, however, be an indicator of macular degeneration’s progression. Wet AMD occurs when unhealthy new blood vessels form under your retina and leak fluid and blood into your macula; wet macular degeneration affects 10-15% of cases and often leads to rapid vision loss.

Macular degeneration does not lead to complete blindness; however, its symptoms can be distressing. They include blurry or darkened central vision, distorted straight lines and decreased intensity of colors; for those suffering advanced macular degeneration this central vision often becomes so weakened that certain tasks such as threading needles or reading are no longer achievable.

Macular degeneration cannot be reversed, but you can take steps to slow or delay its progress. Eating healthily and not smoking are two strategies you can employ in this regard; regular eye exams should also be scheduled regularly – don’t wait until something changes before consulting your physician about potential vision changes!

Macular degeneration can be avoided by getting enough dietary nutrients such as Vitamin C, E, Lutein Zeaxanthin and Zin. You can further decrease your risk by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly and using a walking stick. Talk to your eye doctor at Dr. Richlin OD & Associates about fluorescein angiography — which uses yellow dye to show retinal blood vessels — an invaluable way to detect wet macular degeneration early.

What are the symptoms of macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration, the gradual thinning of the macula, leads to loss of central vision (that part that allows you to see fine detail and straight ahead). Often this affects both eyes. Although not completely blinding, this condition makes driving and reading harder; usually side, or peripheral, vision remains unaffected – advanced cases typically only lose their ability to read or recognize faces; otherwise they remain capable of walking, driving and performing daily activities such as cooking or cleaning.

Early stages of dry macular degeneration often present no noticeable symptoms at all, although initial indicators include blurriness of straight lines, distortion of straight objects like telephone poles or venetian blinds and dark spots in your vision. At this point, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which serves to protect and provide depth perception, may begin to thin resulting in yellow deposits underneath your retina known as “drusen”, though this doesn’t lead directly to vision loss but could indicate that disease progression.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina near or into the area of macula and leak fluid and blood into it, leading to rapid loss of central vision. For this form, prompt medical intervention from your eye doctor is crucial in order to avoid rapid vision loss and loss of central vision quickly. Your physician will conduct an eye examination that includes slit lamp evaluation, various forms of vision testing and sometimes fluorescein angiography or photodynamic therapy – in order to investigate retinal blood vessels more thoroughly.

While there is no cure for wet macular degeneration, it may be possible to slow its progress with diet rich in zinc and antioxidants and regular dilated eye exams; earlier detection will lead to more effective treatments.

What is the treatment for macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration, more commonly known as dry age-related macular degeneration or nonexudative AMD, is characterized by a gradual loss of central vision due to retinal thinning and degeneration – specifically within the macula itself – leading to vision problems like straight lines or faces becoming hard to see clearly, driving, reading and other tasks requiring central vision being more challenging; this condition does not impact peripheral (side) vision however; so you will still be able to use your hands freely as well as participating in other activities!

AMD is characterized by yellow deposits beneath the retina known as drusen, which do not directly cause vision loss but indicate increased risk for advanced AMD development and can be detected with a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Other symptoms may include difficulty adapting to low light conditions, distortion in straight or wavy lines that appear straight, decreased color recognition or changes in ability to adapt quickly when moving or change in ability to change directions quickly when walking a straight path, as well as decreased color recognition ability.

Ten to fifteen percent of those suffering macular degeneration suffer from its “wet” form, which involves abnormal blood vessels growing underneath the retina and leaking fluid and blood into the macula. This form can rapidly and severely impair visual function and potentially lead to rapid sight loss.

Treatment for wet macular degeneration includes regular exams, additional testing such as OCT scans and fluorescein angiography, injection therapy and anti-angiogenic medications designed to inhibit new blood vessel growth in the retina and thus slow or stop vision loss; Macugen was approved by the FDA in December 2004 as one such agent; other similar drugs are being researched currently.

There are a few steps you can take to reduce your risk of macular degeneration, including eating a balanced diet with enough vitamin E, C, zinc and copper intake as well as protecting your eyes from sunlight by wearing sunglasses and wearing a visored hat when heading outside.

What is the prognosis for macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration affects the macula, an area of retina in your eye that provides you with central, clear vision for reading or driving. Although blurriness or distortion may occur over time, peripheral (side) vision will continue to remain useful – for watching TV or walking around the house for example.

Macular degeneration cannot be treated directly, however taking certain dietary supplements like vitamins C and zinc as well as omega-3 fatty acids may slow its progress. Furthermore, quitting smoking, wearing sunhats with visors when outdoors in direct sunlight as well as limiting sun exposure all play key roles.

Age-related macular degeneration, commonly referred to as dry AMD, is a progressive eye condition characterized by the gradual thinning and death of the macula at the center of retina, leading to blurriness and blind spots in central vision. Drusen deposits form below retina which leads to further vision impairment – it is currently the leading cause of blindness among adults over 50 in America today.

If macular degeneration progresses to the advanced “wet” stage, leaky new blood vessels form beneath the retina that can quickly lead to central vision loss. Your doctor may prescribe injections of medications known as anti-VEGF agents such as Beovu(r), Eylea(r), Lucentis(r) or Avastin(r). These may help slow progression and preserve vision as quickly as possible.

Even with wet or dry macular degeneration, there are still steps you can take to maintain both quality of life and independence. Low vision aids and adaptive devices, such as magnifiers and special TV monitors with larger screens can be used to compensate for loss of central vision; remaining peripheral vision may provide guidance while there are various techniques and devices designed to aid daily activities; research is currently ongoing to develop longer-lasting treatments for wet macular degeneration.