The macula is a tiny circle in the middle of the retina, a light-sensitive membrane that lines the inside of the back of the eye. In older people, it sometimes begins to deteriorate or degenerate for unknown reasons. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness in Canada. However, macular degeneration rarely leaves you totally unable to see.
There are two types of this disease:
The causes of macular degeneration are unknown, but the risk grows with age. Because it’s extremely rare in people under age 50, the condition is usually referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
There are some known risk factors for macular degeneration. Smoking may increase your chances of developing the condition and seems to speed up its progress. High blood pressure, heart disease, sun exposure, obesity, and a diet lacking in dark green leafy vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids may also be associated with macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration runs in some families but not in all. Some studies have suggested that both genes and environment contribute to the onset of macular problems. Wet macular degeneration, at least, seems to be more common in people with poor cardiovascular health. Although it only accounts for about 15% of the cases, wet macular degeneration is responsible for 90% of the blindness caused by this disease.
While there’s little that can be done for dry macular degeneration, the disease progresses very slowly, and will probably never completely black out the central vision. Many people with this condition live full lives without serious disability.
Some studies have suggested a link between poor nutrition and faster degeneration of the macula. According to this evidence, fruit and dark green vegetables like spinach can slow the disease and contribute to better outcomes. For some people, a doctor will recommend a daily supplement that contains zinc, copper, vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin, which may help reduce the risk of the advanced disease and delay vision loss. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which supplement is right for you.
There is no cure for wet macular degeneration, but treatment may help to slow it down. Medications injected into the eye, such as aflibercept*, bevacizumab, ranibizumab or brolucizumab may be used to slow down the growth of blood vessels. Daily supplements may also be recommended.
Laser surgery can be used to prevent growth of abnormal blood vessels that leak into the retina, but this surgery is rarely done. Photodynamic therapy may also be used. This involves injecting a medication called verteporfin into a vein. Then, a light is used to activate the medication to close abnormal blood vessels. It’s been shown that bright sunlight may speed up the progress of macular degeneration. Those with the condition should consider wearing UV-protective sunglasses when they are outdoors during daytime hours.
People who have lost their vision may need magnifiers, strong reading glasses, and other devices to help them manage.
To help reduce your chances of getting macular degeneration:
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Macular-Degeneration
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