Most people know that eye injuries and diseases like diabetes can cause vision loss and blindness, but do you know the leading cause of vision loss in people over age 50? Its macular degeneration, an age-related deterioriation of the eye.

It accounts for about 12% of the cases of blindness in the United States. It is mostly seen in older adults, and is seen in about 17% of new cases of blindness each year. Most people who develop macular degeneration are over sixty years old; it is rarely seen under age 50. Central vision is usually only affected, and it does not affect peripheral (side) vision.

Causes

The macula (or macular disk) is the central part of the retina. The retina carries the reflected images that we see. These images are then transmitted to our brain. When tissues that represent the macula break down, such as from age-related processes, macular degeneration occurs.

Medical Records Checklist

If you have macular degeneration or are experiencing vision problems, be sure to have the following information in your medical records:

Name, address, and telephone number of your eye doctor Date of your last visit to your eye doctor Results of your vision tests and eye examination Treatment plan and/or recommendations Date of your next appointment, or when you need to schedule another examination

For example, when arteries that supply the retina become hardened or obstructed (age-related processes), the tissues break down and macular degeneration results. Why some people get macular degeneration and some people dont is thought to be genetic in nature.

Types

There are two types of macular degeneration that occur. The most common type, known as the dry form, is characterized by the formation of drusen (accumulated yellow material) that occur underneath the retina, and are thought to replace the macular cells.

The dry form of macular degeneration occurs in about 80% of the cases, and vision problems are generally slow to occur and often mild.

The second type is the wet form, also known as the neovascularization type, where new vessels outside the retina grow and leak fluid. If fluid accumulates, it can separate the retina from the outer layer, possibly resulting in retinal detachment. The second type is more dangerous, as it can result in quick and permanent vision loss.

Symptoms

A change in central vision is the most notable symptom. This occurs because the macula is located in the center of the retina. A common complaint is a fuzziness or blurriness in the central part of vision, for example, seeing a blank spot in the middle of a page.

A distortion of vision may occur, making straight lines look crooked, as well as a problem in color vision. Macular degeneration usually does not cause any pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Macular degeneration is diagnosed by an eye exam performed by an eye care professional, such as an optometrist or ophthamologist. They will usually detect the disease when they use an ophthalmoscope, an instrument that allows visualization of the retina.

Treatments that have been tried for macular degeneration include laser surgery, which can destroy the abnormal vessels that may grow. Unfortunately there are no curative treatments, although a recent effort in looking at vitamins. (antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C,and vitamin E) and other nutrients, such as zinc and selenium, have gathered a lot of attention recently. The jury is still out if these supplements are effective.

Early recognition is key for successful prevention of macular degeneration. An annual visit to the eye doctor is warranted, especially if you have a family problem of macular degeneration or other eye diseases.