Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over the age of 60. In most cases, age-related macular degeneration is not a blinding disease, but it can cause significant vision loss. The tissue affected is the retina, a nerve tissue at the back of the eye, and the area affected is the macula, the center of vision.
"Dry" macular degeneration" (Dry AMD)
The dry manifestation of the disease is characterized by yellow deposits called drusen in the macula.
Individual drusen will not cause changes in vision, but as they grow and increase in number, they will cause blurred or distorted vision. The difficulty at this stage is mainly manifested in reading.
In advanced stages, there is a thinning of the light receptor layer in the macula leading to atrophy and death of tissue cells. At this stage, a spot can form in the center of vision and there is a loss of central vision.
Today, treatment for the dry form of the disease focuses primarily on delaying the disease from progressing to the wet stage. It can be given in the form of food supplements in various compositions.
"Wet" macular degeneration " (Wet AMD)
The wet manifestation of the disease is characterized by the growth of abnormal, damaged blood vessels from the area of the choroidal layer beneath the macula. (Choroidal Neovascularization)
These blood vessels are sensitive and delicate and tend to leak blood and fluid into the retina. As a result, vision becomes distorted. Straight lines appear wavy, spots appear, and central vision is lost. The damaged blood vessels and bleeding eventually become scarred, leading to irreversible loss of central vision.
Most people with retinal degeneration have the dry manifestation of the disease and partial loss of central vision.
But sometimes the dry form of the disease becomes wet, and these are the people who experience the most severe vision loss.
In recent years, there has been a breakthrough in the treatment of patients with wet retinal degeneration. The main treatment for wet degeneration is currently based on intraocular injections of a substance (Anti VEGF) that neutralizes the growth factor (VEGF) that is responsible for the growth of pathological damaged blood vessels in the eye.
The three medications currently used for injections are Avastin, Lucentis, and Eylea. Studies have found that monthly injections prevent significant deterioration in vision and sometimes there is some improvement following treatment.
Most patients with retinal degeneration are left with an impairment that affects their lives. Active people at work and in their leisure time will need support with various devices, and there are many devices available to them to restore their quality of life.
Fitting special glasses and other accessories should be done by an optometrist who specializes in low vision for a thorough examination and successful fitting.
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