Causes Of Macular Degeneration And Its Symptoms And Treatment

Causes Of Macular Degeneration And Its Symptoms And Treatment . With better health care measures, life expectancy of people has drastically improved. More and more people are surviving into old age. However, old age is accompanied with host of medical problems affecting the burgeoning population of older persons. Macular degeneration is a chronic, age related eye condition. It is the most common cause of blindness in people over the age of 60.

It is a condition that affects the retina. Retina is a paper thin tissue in the posterior segment of the eye. It acts like a screen, the light and images that we see passes through anterior portion of the eye and are finally focused on retina.

Posted by http://signs-causes-treatment-prevention.blogspot.com Prevention And Detection Of Diseases At An Early Stage When The First Signs To Get The Most Effective Treatment.

The light sensitive cells of the retina transfers this images to optic nerve, from where impulses are sent to the brain for analysis and interpretation. The center of retina is called Macula.

Macula has highest number of light sensitive cells, they are called cones. The high concentration of cones in the Macula is responsible for sharp central vision. It is because of the healthy Macula that we are able to read, drive or see faces clearly. In macular degeneration, the cells in the macula gradually die resulting into distorted vision or central vision loss.

Posted by http://signs-causes-treatment-prevention.blogspot.com Prevention And Detection Of Diseases At An Early Stage When The First Signs To Get The Most Effective Treatment.

Causes And Risk Factors For Macular Degeneration

There is no clear reason why macular degeneration occurs. But researchers attribute it to genetic origin and environmental factors. The risk factors include;

• Old Age: macular degeneration is common after the age of 60. As you grow old the risk increases.
•  High cholesterol and hypertension are other contributory factors for causing macular degeneration.
• High index glasses: people having high degree of myopia are at a greater risk of suffering from macular degeneration
• Hereditary: If someone in your family has or had macular degeneration, then your chances of developing macular degeneration are higher.
• Cigarette smoker: if you are smoking cigarettes, then you are at a greater risk of suffering from macular degeneration.
•  Excessive exposure to sunlight: risk of macular degeneration increases if you spend more time in sunlight for several years.
• Fair skin: macular degeneration is seen more in people who are fair. Especially after the age of 70.
• Being female: Women are more likely to suffer macular degeneration than men.
• Obesity: obese persons are also at a risk of macular degeneration.
• Diet deficient in vitamins and antioxidants.

Symptoms Of Macular Degeneration

Dry and wet macular degeneration are two types of macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration is more common, here the light sensitive cells of macula slowly break down. It gives rise to yellow spots on the retina. It is the earliest sign of macular degeneration when these yellow spots are present in large numbers.

In wet macular degeneration there is swelling behind the macula due to leaky blood vessels. It leads to scarring and damage of the macula. However the symptoms remain same in both the forms of degeneration.

Usually there is gradual onset of symptoms. In its early stage when only one eye is affected the person may not experience any symptoms. There is no pain in both the forms.

• Patient needs bright light while he wants to read or does some close work which he used to do without it.
• Finds difficulty to see objects and move around when the room has dim light.
• There is slight blurring of central vision. Blurred vision can be for nearer objects as well as for far objects.
• The central vision becomes blurred and becomes lager day by day as macular degeneration progresses.
• Patient may complain that the straight line that he used to see normally is appearing bent and distorted lately.
• Due to swelling in the macular region, the objet in the affected eye appears smaller.
• Appearance of blind spots.
• Patient gradually finds difficulty in recognizing individuals.

Treatment For Dry And Wet Macular Degeneration

If you find any abnormality in your vision, it is very important to consult an ophthalmologist. There is no particular treatment that can reverse back dry macular degeneration. However, taking vitamins and minerals, a person can reduce the progression of the condition or stop its advancement towards wet macular degeneration.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables that have high antioxidant value. Eat carrots, oranges, green leafy vegetables, strawberry, broccoli etc. They are effective in maintaining better eyesight.
• Include foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Fish and other sea foods are known to be rich source of omega 3 fatty acid. Walnuts and flax seeds are also rich in omega 3. Research has found that omega 3 is known to reduce the risk of vision loss from macular degeneration.
• Take supplements that contain Vitamin A, E and C. All the three vitamins are beneficial in reducing the pace of macular degeneration that has already set in.
• Since smoking is known to be one of cause, quit smoking immediately.
• Try to use peripheral vision when there is central loss of vision caused due to macular degeneration.

Treatment for wet form of macular degeneration:

• Laser: Argon and krypton laser are effective in reducing the further damage to the degeneration which has set in. The specific wavelength burns the abnormal leaking blood vessels.
• There is no dramatic improvement noted after laser surgery or there is no dramatic vision improvement but it may delay the further progress of the disease.
• Reducing cholesterol by anti cholesterol drug and life style modifications are advised by some doctors.