Eyes like all other organs in the body undergo wear and tear. As we age, this wear and tear starts to affect the vision. Age-related macular degeneration as the name suggests is a macular disease which mostly develops after a person reaches middle age. Malfunctioning of the light sensing cells in the macula is the cause of AMD.
Retina, situated at the back of eye, is the light-sensitive tissue which transmits the images we see to the brain as electrical impulses. Macula is a part of the retina and is responsible for the sharp central vision needed for reading, driving, distinguishing colors and for perceiving fine details.
Age-related macular degeneration robs the center part of anything a person views. For example, if the person affected with AMD looks at a photograph of a person, he will be able to only see the outermost regions of the photograph and the center portions will be blurred or partially black and therefore the person will not be able to identify the photograph. AMD rarely leads to total blindness.
It is estimated that about 15 million people in the United States are suffering from Age-related macular degeneration and around two million new cases are diagnosed annually. AMD is the main cause of vision loss in adults over 60. Around 25% of the population in the age group of 65 to 75 is suffering from AMD. The numbers go even high for adults over 75.
Causes of AMD
The exact cause of AMD still eludes the ophthalmologists. But certain risk factors have been identified.
Aging: Aging process is believed to be the main reason for AMD. It is estimated that about 10% of the total population of the world in the age group of 66 to 74 years is suffering from the disease. The percentage of people getting affected by AMD increases as the aging process increases.
Smoking: Researches in macular degeneration have found that smoking increases the risk of AMD.
Gender: Women are more prone to AMD than men.
Race: The disease is found more in white people than in black people.
Family history: The chances of a person developing AMD is high if the person's family has a history of AMD.
Color of the eye: People with blue eyes are more prone to AMD. This is because blue eyes have less protective pigment which neutralizes the ultraviolet light effect.
Diet: Researches have identified high fat intake as a major reason for the development of AMD.
Other diseases leading to AMD: People suffering from hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol can develop age-related macular degeneration.
Sunlight: It is believed that over exposure of the eyes to sun increases the risk of AMD. But this continues to be a debated issue as certain studies does not agree with the view point.
Latest researches point that the accumulation of pro-oxidant melanin oligomers within lysosomes of retinal pigment epithelium is the cause of AMD. As there is a constant increase annually in the number of patients suffering age-related macular degeneration, more and more researches are being conducted to determine the exact cause of the disease.
Age-related Macular Degeneration popularly known as AMD is a large black hole in the center of your sight that prohibits you from seeing complete images and takes away your vision from inside out. AMD is a shocking eye disease and the most important cause of vision loss in people 65 years or older. Everyone ageing 65 or older are at risk for losing your vision from AMD.
What is AMD? AMD, also known as macular degeneration, means something is wrong with the central area of the retina known as the macula. The retina is made up of layers of nerve cells that sense light and allow you to see. There is no cure for AMD, but early detection and treatment may reduce severe vision loss and slow the evolution of the disease.
Someone with macular degeneration might be able to see a clock, but not able to read the numbers, or when talking to you, not able to recognize your physical features. However, a relaxing fact is that, AMD usually does not damage the side vision, which one uses to get around without striking with things around them.
What causes AMD? Most people who get affected from macular degeneration are over age 50. Usually they lose their central vision slowly over many years. In 10 to 15 % of affected patients, vision loss is sudden if abnormal blood vessels leak fluid or blood under the retina.
Blindness and vision impairment have enormous personal, social and economic costs, limiting the activities of otherwise healthy and active people. By increasing awareness of eye disease and its risk factors and connecting more people with the eye exams and medical treatment, and other Eye Care guidelines we can reduce preventable blindness among elderly, allowing our seniors to live more fulfilling and active lives.
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