![]() ![]() People with this form of the disease in both eyes who are either not treated, or who do not respond well to treatment, may end up losing the ability to read, drive or recognize faces, but almost never lose their peripheral vision. Sometimes the loss of vision occurs abruptly and with no warning. Straight objects such as telephone poles or Venetian blinds may appear crooked. Symptoms may begin as gradual progressive blurring or distortion of the vision. Wet macular degeneration is less common, but when it occurs can cause more serious loss of vision. It is often preceded by dry degeneration, and an exam by an ophthalmologist can identify people who may be asymptomatic but at risk for the development of this more severe form of the disease. Wet macular degeneration is so-called because it is the result of tiny abnormal new blood vessels that grow and break into the space behind the macula, causing leakage of blood and fluid. These should only be taken after consultation with a medical doctor as they can have side effects. There is no known effective way of improving dry macular degeneration, but it has been proven that the antioxidant vitamins A, E, C, and Zinc, in specific doses, can slow its progress and reduce the risk of vision loss. Many times, dry macular degeneration may not affect the vision, but in more severe cases the vision can become blurred or blind spots or blank areas may appear in the central vision. ![]() In this case, the pigment layer behind the macula undergoes atrophy and can accumulate deposits of waste material, called “drusen”, which are visible to the ophthalmologist as yellowish spots in the back of the eye. The dry form is more common and usually has much less effect on the vision. Macular degeneration is usually divided into two categories: wet and dry. Other risk factors include smoking, female gender, light-colored eyes, and farsightedness. Recently it has become clear that genetics plays a major role in the susceptibility to macular degeneration and a family history of it in parents and siblings is a risk factor. With age, this central portion of the retina can undergo degenerative changes which, if severe, can lead to serious loss of central vision. The macula is the center of the retina in the back of the eye and is responsible for the central part of the vision allowing us to read and see fine detail. Less commonly it can affect younger people, especially if they are very nearsighted. ![]() Macular degeneration: This is a common condition, often asymptomatic, which affects older individuals increasingly after the age of 60. ![]()
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