One of the most
debilitating diseases is age-related macular degeneration. It affects more
people than cataract and glaucoma combined. Macular Degeneration mostly affects
people after the age of 50. It is very difficult to detect the onset of macular
degeneration hence regular eye checkups are a must. Macular degeneration is
said to occur when the small central portion of the retina known as the macula
starts to deteriorate.
The causes of
age related macular degeneration are a combination of genetic and environmental
factors. Many of these factors have been identified through sheer research
however; a few of the factors remain elusive. Research has shown that changes
in the genes of a person can also be considered as risk factors for the onset
of age related macular degeneration. Smoking is considered as one of the main
reasons for the development of age related macular degeneration. The risk
factors for macular degeneration apart from smoking are old age, family history
of age macular degeneration, gender (females are more likely to develop the
disease than their male counterparts), race (Caucasians are more likely to
develop macular degeneration than members of other races), prolonged sun
exposure, diet ( people with diets high in fat, cholesterol, and sugar and low
in antioxidants and green leafy vegetables), obesity, high blood pressure,
eye-color (people with light colored eyes are more likely to develop macular
degeneration) and low hemoglobin.
The disease
progresses in stages and it is increasingly difficult to detect as it
progresses. Only regular eye checkups can detect the disease. In terms of
treatment, only recently have we made progress in terms of understanding the
disease. Even the causes of the disease were sort of unknown until now. Macular degeneration treatment
is of two types: Dry macular degeneration treatment and wet macular
degeneration. Although there is no concrete treatment for dry macular
degeneration, patients should go for regular eye checkups and have both eyes
monitored to detect signs of damage and stress on the retina.
Wet macular
degeneration treatment is available nowadays however much is yet to be desired
n the form of a lasting cure. Successful treatment of wet macular degeneration
may not restore normal vision but it will improve sight and prevent central
loss of vision from worsening. Medications such as Eylea, Lucentis and macugen
have become the preferred treatment for acute wet macular degeneration, helping
to prevent the growth of leaky blood vessels in your eye. Lucentis is given to
patients once every month although some patients may need treatment only once
every 3 months. Macugen is given every six weeks and Eylea is given once every
two months after three once-monthly injections.
There is also
the option of laser photocoagulation which destroys the blood vessels that have
grown under the macula and halts leakage. Laser therapy is helpful for about
10%- 20% people with wet macular degeneration. Some vision loss may occur,
because this treatment creates scar tissue that can be perceived as blind spots
however, even more vision would be lost if nothing is done.
