Age related macular degeneration...Most common in diabetics over 50!

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Age related macular degeneration is an eye disease that affects one out of every three people over the age of 75 and it is the leading cause of severe vision loss in these individuals. Although this particular eye disease is commonly diagnosed in diabetics over the age of 50, it can affect and sometimes do diabetics and others who are in there early 40s.

The macula which is a specialized area of the retina, that allows us the ability to distinguish fine details such as reading or recognizing colors. It is about the size of an eraser on a pencil and it appears yellowish in color.

Macular degeneration as we know it, is a vision loss condition of the retina. We can go as far as saying that it is a deterioration of the light sensitive layer of the eye in older adults.

This condition greatly affects the central vision that we use for:

• Reading
• Writing
• Driving
• Recognizing faces

This particular eye disease progresses very slowly in some diabetics and non-diabetics. Because of this slow progression, the vision of the individual may not be affected as they get older. However for some, the progression of macular degeneration can be very quick which can lead to severe vision loss in one or both eyes.

The causes of age related macular degeneration are unknown but they are believed to be inherited genetically. The disease can often be found in families, as was suggested by a recent study that was conducted on twins. The study showed that the causes of macula deterioration are significantly linked to some genetic factors.

Types of macular degeneration

There are two types of AMD conditions. These different forms of AMD are classified as follows:

• The dry type
Most people that have been diagnosed with age related AMD, have this particular type. This condition affects the light sensitive layer of the eye (retina). Symptoms of this stage of macula deterioration, show up in the form of tiny yellowish deposits called drusen underneath the macula of the eye.
• The wet type
This is the more severe one of the two. We can go as far as saying that it is a more severe progression of the dry form. Only a small percentage of all diabetics diagnosed, have this type.

Unfortunately this one is responsible for about 90 percent of all vision loss related to this type of eye disease. At this stage, the tiny yellowish deposits (drusen) are much larger and are more in numbers.

Statistics show that there are close to 1.7 million older Americans who have been diagnosed with macular degeneration. Although most of these individuals are diagnosed with the dry type, their condition can progress to the more severe type (wet). This progression is caused by the growth of newly formed tiny blood vessel which are very frigile and abnormal in the eye .

These new blood vessels, often burst and cause blood to leak into the eye under the macula. Because of this new problem, further deterioration of the cells of the macula occur, causing vision loss in a diabetic or non diabetic individual.

Conditions that can cause macular deterioration

Other factors that contribute to the development of macular degeneration are as follows:

• blood pressure
• Vascular disease
• Smoking
• The age of an individual
• Ethnic background (Race)
• High consumption of saturated fats
• High blood cholesterol

• Hyperopia (far sightedness)
• Family history of the disease
• Constant exposure to sunlight

Known symptoms of macular degeneration

Symptoms of macular degeneration may not show up during its initial or early stages of development. However as the disease progresses, diabetics and non-diabetics may begin to experience or show the symptoms that are known to be asociated with macula deterioration. These symptoms include:

• Distortion of straight lines (usually the first sign of this particular eye disease)
• A change in color perception
• Change in your central vision that may appear dark, white or blurry.

Treatment of this diabetic eye disease

There is no present cure for age related macular degeneration but there are several treatment options that are available which may prove effective in preventing severe vision loss or in slowing down the pregression of the disease.

These particular treatment options include:

• Laser therapy.
• Proper vitamins.
• Photodynamic laser therapy. This is a two step treatment program that involves the use of a light sensitive drug. This light sensitive drug will help in the removal of the abnormal blood vessels underneath the macula.
• Anti-angiogenesis drugs. These are drugs that slow or prevent the growth of the tiny, frigile, abnormal blood vessels in the eye .
• Low vision aids that will make objects appear larger
• Anti-VEGF drugs
These drugs target a specific chemical in a diabetic person that is responsible for causing the growth of the abnormal blood vessels. They block the problem causing VEGF causing a reduction in the growth of the tiny abnormal blood vessels; thus, slowing the leakage into the macula.

Experimental treatments for this diabetic eye disease

Presently there are two additional treatments that, according doctors are in the experimental stage. These new treatments may prove very affective in macular degeneration control. These experimental treatments are as follows:

• Submacular surgery
This particular treatment involves removing the tiny abnormal blood vessels surgically.
• Retinal translocation. This also is a surgical procedure that is used to destroy the tiny abnormal blood vessels that are positioned directly under the center of the macula. This particular surgical procedure is used because a laser beam is completely unsafe to use at this point in the treatment.

  However in this procedure, the center of the macula is moved away from the abnormal blood vessels to a more healthier part of the retina before the doctor proceeds with laser therapy to remove or destroy the abnormal blood vessels.

  This particular technique will prevent the formation of any scar tissues or any further damage to the retina.

Diabetes and non-diabetes individuals that are over the age of 40 and have a family history of macula deterioration is at greater risks of developing this disease. Therefore these individuals, should get regular eye exams because the earlier any vision problems can be detected, the earlier all possible treatments can begin.

According to statistics, Opthalmogists may not be able to prevent but they can control age related macular degeneration.

Vision loss by macular degeneration is similar to that of cataracts!

Macula deterioration is a symptom of diabetes retinopathy

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