Macula Degeneration

What is Macula Degeneration?

Wet AMD

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision deterioration, as illustrated here, among people in developed countries who are older than 65.

"Macular degeneration" is a broad term doctors use to describe several conditions and diseases that affect the macula. The macula is a very important part of the eye. It is located at the center of the retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue inside the back of the eye. It is the retina that converts light into signals that are sent to the brain to give us our sight. The macula contains a high concentration of specialized nerve cells that make central vision possible. Central vision allows us to see what is directly in front of us and to make out details and color. Whenever the macula is compromised by one of these eye conditions or diseases, central vision can be diminished.

What is the Most Common Type of Macula Degeneration?

The most common type of macula degeneration is called "age-related macular degeneration," or AMD. It is called "age-related" because it mostly affects people in their 50s and older. It is the leading cause of vision deterioration among people in developed countries who are older than 65.

If your eye doctor has diagnosed you with AMD, you have one of two types - dry or wet. The medical term for the dry form is "atrophic macular degeneration." The vast majority of people who have AMD have this dry form. Your eye doctor suspects you have it when he or she sees certain kinds of deposits building up underneath your macula. The deposits are called "drusen." They are made up of waste products from the natural biologic activities of the molecules, proteins and cells that keep your eyes in good working order. When the body ages, and for other reasons still being studied, the eyes' processes for handling these waste products begin to break down and drusen begin to build up.

Hard drusen, which your eye doctor sees as having well-defined borders, do not signal a problem. Even young people may have hard drusen underneath their maculas. However, soft drusen with borders that are not well-defined are cause for concern. They tend to get larger and cause macula degeneration, which can in turn cause vision to deteriorate.

If soft drusen are present in your eye, your eye doctor will want to monitor them closely. He or she may recommend that you schedule appointments at regular intervals so that the number, size and quality of the drusen can be monitored.

Will I Be Able To Keep My Vision?

Drusen do not necessarily lead to macula degeneration, dry AMD and vision deterioration in every person. When they do, central vision may eventually become distorted or seem to be "spotty" or darker in some areas. In the most advanced form of dry AMD, referred to as "geographic atrophy," large numbers of the specialized cells in the macula may stop functioning. This leads to blind spots called "scotomas" in central vision. If your dry AMD reaches this point, you can seek out a specialist who provides vision rehabilitation. He or she can teach you techniques for using your peripheral vision to complete daily tasks and get around. You may also be able to use optical and other devices to help you with things such as reading, cooking, playing cards or using a computer.

Because atrophic macular degeneration has the potential to cause vision deterioration and can also turn into the wet type of AMD, also an advanced type, scientists are making a substantial effort to find ways to treat it.

In the meantime, you can ask your eye doctor whether taking a specific dietary supplement could decrease the chances that your drusen or dry AMD will progress and lead to vision loss. The supplement is called "the AREDS formulation" and it is a precise combination of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In one of the largest studies of its kind, the AREDS formulation was found to reduce the risk of moderate vision loss and developing advanced AMD. However, the supplement only helped people with certain AMD characteristics; therefore, it is very important to ask your eye doctor whether or not you should take it.

Hope for the future? New clinical trials.

NeoVista, Inc. is a company that is developing an intraocular epiretinal radiation device intended for the treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. If you, or someone you know, are interested in participating in the CABERNET Trial, please follow the link below:

What is Macula Degeneration?

What is Macula Degeneration?

What is the Most Common Type of Macula Degeneration?

Will I Be Able To Keep My Vision?

Hope for the future? New clinical trials.

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