Macular Degeneration

What Is Macular Degeneration?

The macula is the specific area of your retina that is responsible for your central, or forward vision.  Located at the back of the eye, it collects light rays and sends them to your brain to create the visual image you see.  Macular degeneration describes a series of eye conditions that damage your central vision due to a deterioration of the macula.                          

The macula plays an essential part in clear vision.  This makes any case of macular degeneration a potential threat to the quality of a person’s sight. More advanced cases of the disease can lead to a noticeable loss in central vision and depth perception, making it impossible to drive or even read.  Since the macula only affects your forward vision, the end result untreated could leave a person with only their peripheral vision left to guide them. 

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age related macular degeneration is by far the most common form of macular degeneration, and for many, just an unfortunate part of the aging process.  As we age, the tissue in our bodies begins to break down naturally.  This includes the sensitive tissue of the macula.  The result is a deterioration of the macula and subsequent damage to our central vision.  AMD is a common condition, and unfortunately a serious one. To date, it is the leading cause of blindness amongst people over the age of 65.
 

There are two specific types of AMD that a person can develop:  Wet AMD and Dry AMD. 

Dry AMD

Dry AMD is the most common form of AMD by a long shot, responsible for almost 90% of all AMD diagnosis.  Dry AMD develops when the tissue of the macula begins to break down and form debris.  As the amount of debris increases, it begins to affect that person’s vision, causing blurriness that worsens over time.  There is no current cure for AMD, but there are several treatment options that can considerably slow down the progression of the disease, which we will discuss below.

Wet AMD

In more rare instances, Dry AMD can progress to the point where the body starts to develop new blood vessels in the back of the eye, in order to provide more blood to the damaged tissue of the macula.  This is an issue because these blood vessels are usually weak and abnormal, so they tend to leak or bleed into the retina.  This is called Wet AMD and is a very serious condition that can result in rapid vision loss.  In fact, it is the lading cause of vision loss in the U.S.  Should you experience rapid decline in vision, or should straight lines appear blurry, seek treatment immediately.  Most cases, if detected early enough, are treatable with laser surgery and medication.

It is important to understand that while a sobering subject, most cases of AMD are treatable and often times AMD doesn’t require much treatment whatsoever, just proper maintenance to ensure vision loss doesn’t occur.  

Symptoms Of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration affects everyone differently, so no two cases are ever exactly the same.  However, since the macula is responsible for central vision, all symptoms will influence your straight-ahead visual clarity. 

That being said, some of the more common experiences people report are things such as:

• Trouble reading words in a book or on a computer screen
• A black spot or dark circle appearing in the center of your vision
• Straight lines appearing to be blurry or wavy 

Usually AMD only affects one eye at a time, so it is often hard to detect the warning signs.  Add to that, the fact that AMD only gradually worsens over time - it’s easy to realize why people can go on sometimes for years and never know they have the disease.  Fortunately, a general eye exam can usually alert your vision care provider of the red flags of AMD before any symptoms develop.  It’s another important reason to maintain your routine yearly eye exams with your doctor.  

Diagnosis of Macular Degeneration

Since the symptoms of AMD are hardly noticeable until actual vision loss has occurred, it is essential to undergo a yearly eye exam.   Only an eye doctor can accurately determine if you are suffering from AMD, or another vision related illness.  The good news is that the early stages of AMD are detectable, and if caught at this stage, treatment is highly successful at slowing down any potential vision loss.   

The most important thing you can do to protect your vision from AMD is to undergo a thorough eye exam at least once a year, especially if you are over the age of 60.  At that age, your eye care provider will begin to administer specific tests to check for any early warning signs of AMD.  Schedule your yearly eye exam with RMO Colorado online. 

Macular Degeneration Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for AMD.  But there are several successful treatment options that can slow down the progress of the disease, and in some cases, even reverse vision loss due to AMD.

Treatment for Dry AMD

Surprisingly, the most effective treatment at slowing down the progression of Dry AMD is an all-natural supplement of vitamins and nutrients.  Studies have shown that a nutritional supplement consisting of beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E, and zinc oxide, can suppress the progression of the disease by more than 25%.  Otherwise, the next best treatment is to rely on visual aids such as lights and magnifying glasses designed for AMD, and sunglasses that deflect harmful UV rays. 

Treatment for Wet AMD

Wet AMD is a much more severe condition, and treatment must be targeted at stopping the leakage of blood into the retina, as well as the continual growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye.  The most successful treatment options include medicines that are injected into the eye, and laser therapy that cauterizes the vessels to stop bleeding.  Some of the more common treatments include:

Lucentis
Lucentis is a recently FDA-approved drug that works by stopping the development of new blood vessels in the eye.  It is administered through a series of direct injections into the eye.  Lucentis is showing great promise in the treatment of Wet AMD, with most cases resulting in complete stoppage, and even some reversal, of vision loss.

Avastan
Avastan is a drug that is extremely similar to Lucentis, with the only difference being that it’s molecular makeup makes it more difficult for the drug to penetrate the tiny blood vessels of the eye.  However, studies show that in most cases the results are very similar to that of Lucentis in treating Wet AMD. 

Avastan is only FDA-approved for the treatment of cancer, and not for AMD.  But Avastan is considerably less expensive than Lucentis, making it a great option for people without insurance, or families with lower income.   

Laser Therapy

In the most severe cases of Wet AMD, a patient will have to undergo laser therapy to cauterize the rogue blood vessels and stop the leakage of blood into the retina to prevent any further vision loss.  Although effective, laser therapy isn’t a long-term treatment option, and multiple laser therapy sessions can result in permanent retinal scarring. 

Please understand that to date there is no permanent cure for AMD, and that these treatment options only slow down the progression of the disease.  We do have something to look forward to in the future, as many exciting treatment options are in the advanced development stage, and some even showing great promise in the clinical trial stage.  But until those treatments are FDA approved for administration, routine eye examinations with your eye doctor are the best treatment option possible. 

Click here to schedule a complete eye health examination with Rocky Mountain Ophthalmology today!