Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD), a condition that involves the loss of the central field of vision, is one of the leading causes of blindness in older adults. It commonly occurs in adults aged 50 and older. And whilst most cases are in industrialised countries, it is now an increasing global health problem. Apart from macular degeneration, other causes of visual impairment in adults include cataract, glaucoma and presbyopia.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

The macula, which is part of the retina and is located at the back of the eye, is responsible for transmitting electric signals to the brain, in turn allowing us to see sharp and clear images. With age and other factors, the macula can be damaged, resulting in loss of vision. People with macular degeneration may not see objects clearly, and their central vision is impaired. For instance, when you look at a person, you can see his surroundings in a blurry state, but you are unable to recognise or see their face.

Macular degeneration can affect one eye or both eyes. If you have AMD in only one eye, your overall vision may not necessarily be affected. However, as the condition may worsen, there is an increased risk that macular degeneration may also occur in the other eye.

Macular Degeneration Risk Factors

About half of the patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration are more than 60 years old, but it can also affect younger people. Other than age, other risk factors include:

• History of AMD in the family
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High cholesterol

It has also been found that AMD is more common in Caucasians than among Hispanics and people of African descent.

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration can be classified as dry AMD and wet AMD.

Most AMD cases begin with the dry form, and symptoms may not be prevalent in the beginning. As the condition becomes more obvious, you may notice that:

• You begin to have blurry visions
• Colours and objects are no longer as bright or as clear 
• You have difficulty reading and seeing finer details
• When the condition worsens, you may notice a dark, blurred spot in your central vision which grows larger over time
• You are having difficulties identifying the face of a person until they are close enough

Only about 10% of patients experience wet age-related macular degeneration. In wet AMD, there is an abnormal growth of blood vessels under the macula. It causes bleeding and leaking and leads to vision loss. Some symptoms of wet AMD include:

1.  Decreased brightness of colours
2.  Seeing straight lines as curved or distorted
3.  Blurry, dark spot in your field of vision

4.  Most of the time, symptoms of wet AMD progress more rapidly.

Seeking Medical Help

If you begin experiencing symptoms such as blurry vision that continue or worsen over time, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Macular degeneration does not cause pain and can be unnoticeable over a period of time. Thus, having your eyes regularly examined is important.

Persons with history of AMD in their family should talk to their physician for an eye exam, even with the absence of symptoms. Patients with dry AMD are advised to see their doctor at least once a year, whilst those with wet AMD may require a monthly, regular check-up.