All About Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration is an eye disease that is often age
related. Not much is known about the causes of this disease. How
it effects the eye is known. Risk factors have also been
determined. Although many treatments are in the early stages
there are some treatments that have helped people. Studies and
work against the effects of macular degeneration continue.
Macular degeneration is a deterioration of the macula. The
macula is at the center of the retina. The retina is the part of
the eye that sends visual images to the brain so a person can
see. This damage to the macula results in blind spots, blurry or
distorted vision. This disease is one of the major visual
disease in the United States.
There is not a lot known about macular degeneration. What is
known, however is that it is closely linked with aging. There
has also been a link found between the disease and a gene
variant called complement factor H or CFH. Macular degeneration
has two forms: dry or wet. Dry or non-nonvascular macular
degeneration is the most common and occurs in 85% to 90% of
diagnosis. Wet or nonvascular macular degeneration is a rarer
form that results in the worst vision impairments. It is thought
that the dry form is caused by thinning of the tissue in the
macula. The wet form may be caused by leakage of blood and fluid
into the retina.
Since little is known about what exactly causes macular
degeneration it is hard to prevent it, but there are some
guidelines that have been developed on risk factors that may
contribute to the disease. The following list is of those risk
factors.
- smoking - age - gender (women are at more of a risk) - family
history - high cholesterol - race (Caucasians are at more of a
risk) - exposure to ultraviolet light (less is better)
These are just factors that have been studied and shown to play
a part in increasing the risk of developing the disease.
There is no cure for macular degeneration. Many medicines and
treatments are still in the beginning stages of being studied.
If you carry a high risk the best chance of dealing with the
disease is getting regular eye exams.