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Age-Related Macular Degeneration:
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Y
our vision is one of your most important
senses. As you get older, your eyes will experience many
changes that you don’t even notice until they’re in advanced
stages. It is important to receive a thorough exam at least
once a year with an experienced ophthalmologist at Associates in
Ophthalmology.
One service AIO provides is the diagnosis and treatment of Age-
Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). You might be wondering, “What
is AMD?” “How does it aff ect me?” and “Am I at risk of vision loss?”
What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular Degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central
portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the
images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the
brain. The retina’s central portion, known as the macula, is responsible
for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read,
drive a car, recognize faces or colors, and see objects in fi ne detail.
There are two basic types of Macular Degeneration: “dry” and “wet.”
Approximately 85% to 90% of the cases of Macular Degeneration are
the “dry” (atrophic) type, while 10-15% are the “wet” (exudative) type.
There are three stages of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD):
• Early AMD – Most people do not experience vision loss in
the early stage of AMD, which is why regular eye exams are
important, particularly if you have more than one risk factor (see
below). Early AMD is diagnosed by the presence of medium-sized
drusen (yellow deposits beneath the retina).
• Intermediate AMD – At this stage, there may be some
vision loss, but there still may not be noticeable symptoms. A
comprehensive eye exam with specifi c tests will look for larger
drusen and/or pigment changes in the retina.
• Late AMD – At this stage, vision loss has become noticeable.
Macular degeneration causes loss in the center of the fi eld
of vision. In dry macular degeneration, the center of the retina
deteriorates. With wet macular degeneration, leaky blood vessels
grow under the retina.
You are more likely to develop AMD if you:
• eat a diet high in saturated fat (found in foods like meat, butter,
and cheese)
• are overweight
• smoke cigarettes
• are over 50 years old
• have hypertension (high blood pressure)
• have a family history of AMD.
Having heart disease is another risk factor for AMD, as is having
high cholesterol levels. Caucasians (white people) also have an
elevated risk of developing AMD.
Diagnosing AMD
The fi rst signs of Age-Related Macular Degeneration are
typically discovered by an eye doctor in an annual dilated eye
exam. They include the presence of drusen—tiny but visible heaps
of cell waste on the surface of the retina—and pigment changes in
the macula. Often these signs of AMD are present long before any
changes are noticeable in a person’s vision. In fact, nearly everyone
over age 50 has at least one small drusen. Standard screening tests
include the visual acuity exam (the letter chart with an “E” at the top)
and an Amsler grid, which looks like graph paper.
Treatments
Current treatments are slowing the progression of AMD and
improving vision. Although there is not yet a cure for Age-Related
Macular Degeneration or Stargardt disease, research at leading
institutions worldwide progresses steadily. Scientists have
begun to understand underlying genetics, cell metabolism, and
environmental factors that cause macular degeneration.
Research at AIO
AIO is currently conducting research studies for Age-Related
Macular Degeneration treatments. The research team was just
recognized for their excellence in recruitment by the PANDA AMD
study they are conducting. To learn more about participating in a
study at AIO or to schedule an exam, please visit AIOvision.com or
call 888.634.9800.
1. American Academy of Ophthalmology, [n.d.] “What is Macular Degeneration,” retrieved
from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration
2. American Macular Degeneration Foundation, [n.d.] “About Macular Degeneration,”
retrieved from https://www.macular.org/what-macular-degeneration
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SPRING 2020
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