Why People Lose Vision and Preventive Measures

What is Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) or Macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease related with aging which gradually affects central vision. However, it will not completely affect all your vision. Your vision will not go black but AMD can make you difficult to read, drive or perform daily routines which require sharp, fine central vision.

AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in people aged 60 and older. Thus, AMD is a growing problem particularly for elderly people. AMD, a source of significant visual disability, occurs with degeneration of the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye and is connected to the brain by the optic nerve.

The retina responsible for the sharp and clearly central vision needed for common daily tasks such as reading, driving, and sewing. In other words, AMD blurs the sharp vision for straight-ahead activities though you may still able to see shapes, light and movement.

Types of Age-related Macular Degeneration

Apart from the formation of drusen, Wet and Dry form are two main types of age-related macular degeneration. Most people with the dry form of AMD will not lose their central vision. However, dry AMD will lead to the wet AMD. Thus, it is very important for people with AMD to get their eyesight monitored carefully and consult with the eye doctor on a regular basis.

Drusen

The present of tiny yellow deposits (drusen) under the retina is early signs of AMD. This will appear visible to your eye specialists during an eye examination. The drusen is not the major cause of the disease but it means that your eye may be at risk for developing more severe AMD.

Dry AMD (Non-Neovascular)

It is an early stage of the disease, it may result from the aging and thinning of macular tissues, depositing of pigment in the macula, or a combination of the two processes. Dry AMD begins with one eye, but may later affect the other eye.

Dry AMD occurs when there is an accumulation of yellow deposits or debris (drunsen) from deteriorating tissue primarily in the area of the macula. The drunsen will not cause changes in vision, but when it grows in size and increase in number; it may lead to a dimming or distortion of vision. The dry AMD may also advance in the stage where the thinning of the light-sensitive layer of cells in the macular leading to tissue death (atrophy). People with atrophic form of macular degeneration may have blind spots in the centre of their vision. When this condition gets worse, people will lose central vision thoroughly.

Wet AMD (neovascular)

Approximately 10% of dry AMD will advance to a more damaging form of the eye disease known as wet AMD. The wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina starts to grow underneath the macular. This condition is called choroidal neovascularization (CNV). These blood vessels tend to be very fragile and always leak blood and fluid into the retina, and subsequently causing permanent damage to light-sensitive retinal cells, which die off and create blind spots in central vision. Thus, people with wet AMD can loss their vision rapidly. Also, wet AMD causes distortion of vision that makes straight lines look wavy, as well as blind spots and loss of central vision.

What are the Symptoms of Macular Degeneration?

Both dry and wet AMD cause no pain at all. In more cases, AMD progresses extremely slow that people were unaware or notice little change in their vision. In the initial stage, AMD has no significant symptoms until it advances or affects both eyes. Distortion of straight lines is a first sign of macular degeneration. This condition will then progress to a gradual loss of central vision.

Common symptoms include straight lines, such as sentences on a page, telephone poles, and the sides of buildings start to appear distorted or wavy. The centre of vision appears dark, blur or white. A dark or empty area (blind spot) also appears in the centre of vision. Color perception may change or diminish. People with AMD suffer with blurry or fuzzy vision, and sometimes they find difficulty in recognizing familiar faces.

As for dry AMD, the most common symptom is slightly blurred central vision, which looks like a blind spot right in the middle of your vision. Over times, as less of the macular can function well, people will see objects in front of them less clear, such as faces, shapes or words in a book. If the loss of light-sensitive cells becomes greatly, people may also see a small, but growing blind spot in the centre of their field of vision.

As for wet AMD, the early sign is that straight lines appear crooked or wavy. People may have difficulty to recognize faces, simple objects besides losing ability to read words. This happens when fluid from the leaking blood vessels gathers and lifts the macular, and further distorting the vision. A small blind spot may develop in wet AMD, causing the affected area loss of centre vision.

Who is at Risk for AMD?

The middle-aged individuals are mostly vulnerable for AMD. According to the recent researches, AMD occurs more often in females than males. The risk for developing macular degeneration increases with age, and may be higher in people who smoke, have hypertension and cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes or poor blood sugar control, excessive sun exposure, light-colored eyes, or a family history of the AMD disease may have a higher risk of developing AMD. People with elevated blood cholesterol levels may be at greater risk for wet AMD.

How to Avoid or Prevent From Getting AMD?

To reduce the risk of getting AMD, you should have a healthy lifestyle. Do not drink alcohol. Avoid smoking as it can increase your risk of age-related macular degeneration and the recurrence of the wet AMD after laser surgery. Always monitor your health by maintaining normal blood pressure and watching your weight. Exercise regularly. Adopting healthy diet is essential to get yourself away from AMD.

Nutrition also plays an important role towards the developing of AMD. Several epidemiologic studies and clinical trials recommend that diet high in antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins C and E can protect the retina against photochemical damage and thus helping to lower the risk for AMD.

Meanwhile, consumption of green leafy vegetables and fruits which is rich in “good fats”, carotenoids such as lutein (very important antioxidant in the macura) and zeaxanthin has a protective effect against advanced macular degeneration. Zinc is also associated with a decreased occurrence of early or late age-related macular degeneration.

In addition to that, the nutrients mentioned may also slow down the development of dry macular degeneration. The report released in 2001 from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) conducted by the National Eye Institute also emphasizes the benefits of high levels of antioxidants and zinc for halting or slowing progression of macular degeneration.

Each of us should have a regular eye check. Doctors will provide those with age-related macular degeneration Amsler grid so that they may check their central vision periodically at home. When you observe any abnormal changes of your vision, consult your doctor.

People with dry AMD should consume diet low in saturated fats and high in antioxidants, found in vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, as well as zinc and copper. Always consume dark leafy green vegetables like spinach, collard greens, kale and turnip greens. Make sure you include Bilberry, Cranberry and Grape Seed in your diet as they are anthocyanins which retard the breakdown of Vitamin C and thus improving the vision.

Avoid a high dietary intake of fat which is associated with a higher prevalence or occurrence of early or late age-related macular degeneration. Before taking any supplements or diet, consult your doctor for the advice.

Wear sunglasses that can protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays which are identified as factor to cause damage to the pigment cells in the retina. Use a halogen light instead of the standard light bulbs as it has lesser glare and disperse the light better. Always use a magnifier to read a tiny size word so that you can read the increased print size easily. Try to look for large-print books, magazines or periodicals.