What Is Macular Degeneration? | HealthInfi

Macular degeneration is a group of eye diseases that affects central vision. According to the National Eye Institute, it is the leading cause of severe vision loss among people age 60 and older, especially among Caucasians. The disease tends to occur more often in women than in men.

Macular degeneration often is called age-related macular degeneration (AMD) because the greatest risk factor for the disease is advancing age. Although AMD can occur in middle age, the National Eye Institute reports that people age 60 and older are at greatest risk for developing AMD. According to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, macular degeneration affects more than 10 million Americans.

Some forms of macular degeneration can occur in children. One is juvenile macular degeneration, or Stargardt’s disease, which affects one in 10,000 children, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation; it usually appears between the ages of six and 20 and is inherited. A gene that causes Stargardt’s disease has been identified.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe, irreversible vision loss in people over age 60. It occurs when the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. Because the disease develops as a person ages, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, it can be a source of significant visual disability.

Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss, affecting more than 10 million Americans – more than cataracts and glaucoma combined.

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 fine detail.

Types of Macular Degeneration

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.

Stargardt disease is a form of macular degeneration found in young people, caused by a recessive gene.

Stages of Macular Degeneration

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 specific tests will look for larger drusen and/or pigment changes in the retina.
• Late AMD – At this stage, vision loss has become noticeable.

If you have already been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, here are Ten Questions to Ask Your Doctor.Read More