Macular degeneration is primarily age related, affecting one in
seven people over the age of 50, in Australia.
The Macula is the very centre of the retina. You are reading this
text using your macula. It is responsible for your ability to read,
distinguish faces, drive a car and any other activities which require
fine vision.
Macular Degeneration (MD) is the name given to a group of degenerative
diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of
central vision, affecting the ability to see fine detail, drive,
read and recognise faces.
Unfortunately there is no cure for MD. However there are treatment
options that can slow down its progression, depending on the stage
and type of the disease (wet, dry, and other forms). The earlier
the disease is detected, the more vision you are likely to retain.
MD begins in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium, or RPE, a layer of
cells underneath the retina. The RPE is responsible for passing
oxygen, sugar and other essentials up to the retina and moving waste
products down to the blood vessels underneath (these vessels are
called 'the choroid').
At early stage, MD usually appears in dry form. It occurs when
this "garbage collection" breaks down and waste products
from the retina build up underneath the RPE. These deposits, known
as 'drusen', are easily seen by your eye care professional as yellow
spots.
As MD progresses to wet form, the RPE cells die and the RPE cells
fail to prevent choroidal blood vessels from growing into the retina.
As a result, vision loss occurs.
In the early stages of MD, when drusen first appear, you may not
realise anything is wrong and you may still have normal vision.
That is the best time to detect the disease. It is important to
be aware that the dry type (drusen) can turn into the wet type (lose
of vision) so it is important to have regular checkup with your
eye care professional.
Risk Factors
Age - Macular Degeneration is primarily age related, affecting
one in seven people over the age of 50, in Australia.
Family History - People with a family history of Macular Degeneration
have a 50 percent chance of developing the disease.
Smoking - Smokers and people that have smoked are three times more
likely to develop Macular Degeneration
Symptoms
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should seek help
immediately from an eye care professional.
Difficulty in reading or doing any other activity which requires
fine vision
Distortion where straight lines appear wavy or bent
Distinguishing faces becomes a problem
Dark patches or empty spaces appearing in the centre of your vision
At early stages it may go unnoticed. Symptoms should never be dismissed
as part of just 'getting older'. Detecting changes early allows
you to take steps to slow down the progression of Macular Degeneration.
The Amsler Grid is an important tool in detecting any changes in
vision.
Reduce the Risk
There are some positive lifestyle steps that can be followed that
may help to reduce the risk of MD or help to slow down the progression
of MD.
Eye Health Checklist
You can't change your genes or your age but you may reduce the risk
of MD or slow down the progression of the disease, by making positive
diet and lifestyle changes:
Have your eyes tested regularly and make sure the macula is checked.
Do not smoke.
Keep a healthy lifestyle, control your weight and exercise regularly.
Eat a healthy well-balanced diet:
Limit your intake of fats
Eat fish two to three times a week
Eat dark green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit daily
Eat a handful of nuts each week
In consultation with your doctor, consider taking a zinc and antioxidant
supplement. Provide adequate protection for your eyes from sunlight
exposure, especially when young.
