What is Macular Degeneration?
Macular Degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is characterized by damage to the central area of the retina layer. This condition affects central vision and typically occurs with age. The disease is divided into two types: dry and wet. The dry type occurs with the degeneration of cells in the macula layer, while the wet type involves the formation of new, abnormal blood vessels, leading to leakage and vision loss.
What Causes Macular Degeneration?
The most important risk factor for macular degeneration is age. If you are over 50, you may experience decreased vision, blurriness in the macula, difficulty reading, and eventually the formation of a dark spot in the center of your vision. Other risk factors include smoking, exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet rays, light-colored eyes, hypermetropia, hypertension, and high cholesterol. If left untreated, it can lead to severe vision loss. There is no treatment to improve vision, but there are treatments to maintain the current level of vision. Diagnostic tests include optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus imaging.
Types of Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is seen in two forms: dry and wet. The majority of people have the dry or atrophic form, which causes the degeneration of light-sensitive cells in the macula and thinning of retinal tissues. Symptoms of dry macular degeneration may initially affect only one eye. Vision becomes blurry, especially in the center, and gradual vision loss occurs. In the dry form, early symptoms include blurry vision, difficulty recognizing faces, or reading. The other eye may also be affected. As the disease progresses, a dark spot may form in the center of the visual field. Over time, this area expands and hinders vision. However, a person with macular degeneration in one eye may not notice the vision loss if their other eye remains healthy. Wet macular degeneration progresses faster than the dry type. People with macular degeneration do not completely lose their vision; peripheral vision remains intact.
Treatment Methods for Macular Degeneration
The treatment method for macular degeneration varies according to its type. Accordingly, protective treatment, intravitreal injections, and photodynamic therapy can be applied. Macular degeneration can be diagnosed through eye examinations. Color tests may also be conducted to see how well the cone cells within the retina are functioning.
If your doctor sees small yellow deposit clusters or pigment fragments in the macula under a fundus examination, they may suspect dry macular degeneration. The use of the Amsler Grid diagram is an important part of the examination. This diagram identifies the distorted vision caused by macular degeneration. You will be asked to look at a point in the center of a grid that resembles graph paper. If you see the lines as wavy, you may have macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration is diagnosed using angiography to detect leaking blood vessels in the retina.
There is no proven treatment for dry macular degeneration. However, this disease progresses very slowly, and although patients experience a loss of central vision, they can manage their daily routines.
Treatment options for wet macular degeneration include intravitreal injections and laser therapy. Your doctor may suggest using an Amsler Grid diagram at home to monitor your condition. Regular check-ups can help detect any deterioration in your condition.
Wet macular degeneration is more severe, resulting from the development of abnormal blood vessels in the layer beneath the retina, extending toward the macula. These new vessels tend to leak fluid and blood, which can damage tissue cells. The result is vision loss and internal scarring.
Visual distortion is the earliest symptom of wet macular degeneration. Straight lines appear wavy, and shapes may become distorted. Colors may dull, and a blind spot may form in the center of the focus area.
Is Macular Degeneration Contagious? Can It Spread to Others?
Macular Degeneration is not contagious and cannot spread to others. The disease typically develops with age and is associated with various risk factors.
What to Expect After Macular Degeneration Surgery?
Although the procedure is generally painless, some individuals may feel slight discomfort during surgery. Post-operation, it may take a few days for the eye to heal, and vision may be blurry for a short time. However, the recovery process is usually quick, and normal activities can resume within a few weeks.
How Much Does Macular Degeneration Treatment Cost?
The cost of macular degeneration treatment varies depending on the underlying cause and the type of operation to be performed. The treatment plan created by our specialist eye doctor based on a detailed examination may vary from person to person.
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