Macular Degeneration Treatment

Macular Degeneration, otherwise known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is the name for a condition resulting from progressive vision impairment caused by deterioration of the macula, a central part of the retina. Macula is a thin layer at the back of the eye that captures the images we see and transfers that captured data via the optic nerve to the brain, for it to process. The macula is the reason why our eyes have a focused central vision.

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How Long Does it Take to Lose Vision With Macular Degeneration?

Macular Degeneration is a common condition — it’s a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. The effect differs from person to person. It progresses very slowly in some people and faster in others. You may not notice degradation in your vision for a long time if you are in the inception stages of AMD. That is why our expert ophthalmologists recommend a regular eye examination.

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

If you’re wondering, “Do you always go blind with macular degeneration?”, the answer is no. However, while this condition doesn’t always cause complete blindness, it can lead to symptoms mentioned below:

Wavy or blurred vision
Visual distortion
Loss of central vision, with dark or blurry spots in the middle of the vision
Change in the perception of colour
Need for brighter light to see
Trouble recognizing faces

Types and Stages of Macular Degeneration

There are 2 types of macular degeneration: wet and dry.

Wet AMD

It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow behind the retina and leak fluid under the macula. The fluid causes the macula to bulge and scar, resulting in vision loss. The continuous damage and scarring makes way for more serious symptoms of wet AMD to develop, such as distorted vision and blind spots.

Dry AMD

It makes up about 90% of cases – wherein there is a slow deterioration of the cells of the macula, often over many years, as the retinal cells die off and are not renewed. The deterioration of macula cells can split the macula layers apart and cause them to dry and thin, causing significant loss of vision.

Risk Factors

Age is the real catalyst when it comes to macular degeneration. As your age increases beyond 60, so does the risk factor.

Other risk factors:

Genetics – Family history of AMD
Smoking – Smoking doubles the risk of AMD.

What Is the Best Treatment for Macular Degeneration?

Can macular degeneration be cured? Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for macular degeneration. All major treatments aim at slowing down the progression of the disease and preventing vision loss. Early detection of this disease becomes the key to preventing vision loss.

Typically, macular degeneration treatment involves vitamin supplements or medications that are injected into the eye. This again depends on the type of AMD. However, in rare cases, macular degeneration surgery may be performed.