Things You Should Know About Age-Related Macular Degeneration

As we get older, we can suffer from vision loss. AMD is one of the leading causes of vision loss. Doctors can typically diagnose AMD with a routine eye exam.

According to WebMD people who are unfamiliar, here are five things to know about AMD.

What is AMD?

AMD is an eye disorder that causes severe or permanent vision loss. People ages 60 or older can suffer from this condition. This kind of eye condition occurs when the small central portion of the retina known as the macula wears down.

Understand the types of macular degeneration

Wet AMD:

In this form of age-related macular degeneration, there is leakage of blood vessels below your macula take place, and this fluid into the retina, distorting vision to the point that straight lines look wavy and causes blind spot.

Dry AMD:

In this form of AMD, the macula develops yellow deposits called drusen. As these drusen get bigger, they can dim or distort the vision.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

Some elements that cause macular degeneration may include:

1) Smoking

2) High blood pressure

3) High cholesterol

4) Obesity

5) Genetics

What Are Some Symptoms Of Macular Degeneration?

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

1) Worse or less clear vision. Your vision might be blurry, and it may be hard to read fine print or drive.

2) Dark, blurry areas in the center of your vision.

3) Rarely, worse, or different color perception.

How is macular degeneration treated?

Some treatments for macular degeneration may include:

Anti-angiogenesis drugs. Medications such as flibercept, bevacizumab, pegaptanib, and ranibizumab can block the creation of blood vessels, as well as the leaking from the vessels in your eye, which causes wet macular degeneration.

Laser therapy. High-energy laser light can destroy abnormal blood vessels growing in your eye.

Photodynamic laser therapy. In this procedure, a light-sensitive drug called verteporfin is injected by a doctor into your bloodstream. This drug is absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels. A laser is then shined into your eye to trigger the medication to damage these abnormal blood vessels.

Low-vision aids. They are devices that have special lenses or electronic systems for creating larger images of nearby things.

Submacular surgery. This removes abnormal blood vessels or blood.

Retinal translocation. When your doctors can't use a laser beam safely then this type of procedure useful to destroy abnormal blood vessels under the center of your macula. In this procedure, the retina specialist rotates the center of your macula away from the abnormal blood vessels to a healthy area of your retina. This procedure helps to prevent patients from having scar tissue or receiving more damage to the retina. The laser can be helpful for the treatment of abnormal blood vessels.