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Macular Degeneration

fysiologiki ekfylisi
Normal Vision Vision with macular degeneration

Age-related Macular Degeneration is a chronic eye disorder and one of the most common causes of severe loss of vision for people over 60 years of age. It is also one of the most common causes of blindness for adults in the world.

What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related Macular Degenerationis a disorder that can affect precise central vision that is necessary for activities such as reading, driving, telling the time and face recognition.

Some times, Age-related Macular Degeneration εdevelops so slowly that small changes in vision can be perceived. Other times, it develops rapidly which results in fast loss of vision. Age-related Macular Degeneration does not cause pain, but deprives you of the ability to see in front of you.

There are two types of Age-related Macular Degeneration: dry and wet.

Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration: In dry Age-related Macular Degeneration, which accounts for 85% of total cases of Age-related Macular Degeneration, the photoreceptors of the retina are damaged, affecting central vision. The most common symptom of dry Age-related Macular Degeneration is slightly blurry vision. Its dry form tends to develop slowly, but it can turn to a more serious form of Age-related Macular Degeneration, called wet Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration: In wet Age-related Macular Degeneration, which accounts for about 15% of the cases of Age-related Macular Degeneration, but it is the main cause for loss of vision, some abnormal vessels develop behind the retina, under the macula. This can lead to hemorrhage, scarring and permanent damage. The damage develops faster than the dry form and tends to lead to more severe loss of central vision. If it is detected early and with proper treatment, the damage can be partially restored.

Who should be concerned?

The two most important risk factors for developing Age-related Macular Degeneration are:

Age: About 25% of people over 65 have Age-related Macular Degeneration.
Those who already have Age-related Macular Degenerationstrong> in one eye. From those, about 40% will develop Age-related Macular Degenerationstrong> in the other eye within 5 years.

Other risk factors for developingAge-related Macular Degeneration are:

Smoking
Race – Caucasians seem to be at greater risk
Family history of the disease 
Poor diet lacking certain vitamins and minerals
Gender – Women seem to be at higher risk than men

What are the symptoms? 

Decreased, blurry or less accurate (decreased Visual Acuity) central vision – Void or blind spot in central vision (Central Scotoma) 
Seeing waves and curves on objects (metamorphopsia) 
Colors seem washed out or blurred (Contrast Sensitivity Loss)

Because, as we have already mentioned, the macula is the central part of the retina, its degeneration does not affect peripheral vision that usually remains intact, which results in the patient retaining some sense of orientation in space even in advanced stages. You should be ready for the symptoms of Age-related Macular Degeneration. If you notice any changes in your vision, contact your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Learn more about age-related macular degeneration.