Macular degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss in people over the age of sixty. It is rarely a condition that leads to blindness, but it can cause a significant loss of vision.
The retina is the nerve tissue at the back of the eye that senses light. The small central part of the retina is the macula. When the macula deteriorates with age, a person develops age related macular degeneration. There are two main types of macular degeneration:
- Dry form macular degeneration — deposits in the macula called drusen build up over time. These yellow deposits can dim or distort vision; eventually, the light-sensitive cells begin to thin, leading to blind spots. A person with dry form macular degeneration may have difficulty reading.
- Wet form macular degeneration — abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the macula. If the blood vessels leak blood and fluid into the retina, vision can become distorted. Straight lines may look wavy; blind spots may develop. The abnormal blood vessels eventually form scar tissue that causes permanent vision loss.
The majority of people with macular degeneration have the dry form; only ten percent of people with macular degeneration have the wet form. Often the first sign of a problem is that straight lines will appear wavy. These may be followed with blurry areas and a change in color perception.
Macular degeneration is most common in adults over the age of sixty. Heredity can also play a role in your risk — if someone in your family has had the condition, you may be at higher risk to develop it yourself. Smoking may also increase your chances of developing macular degeneration. If you are at risk for macular degeneration, talk to your eye doctor as soon as possible. A routine eye exam can tell whether or not you have macular degeneration.
There is no cure for macular degeneration, but you can slow the progression of the disease. Some people respond well to vitamin therapy; vitamins C and E, zinc, copper, and beta carotene can help slow vision loss. Laser therapy can destroy abnormal blood vessels in the retina. Certain drugs can inhibit the growth of abnormal blood vessels in wet form macular degeneration. Your eye doctor can determine the best course of action for your vision problems.