What is Macular Degeneration?
Amsler Eye Test (see below)
Macular Degeneration (MD) is the name given to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of central vision, affecting the ability to see fine detail, drive, read and recognise faces.
Although there is no cure for MD, there are treatment options that can slow down its progression, depending on the stage and type of the disease (wet, dry, and other forms). The earlier the disease is detected, the more vision you are likely to retain.
Both wet and dry forms of MD begin in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium, or RPE, a layer of cells underneath the retina. The RPE is responsible for passing oxygen, sugar and other essentials up to the retina and moving waste products down to the blood vessels underneath (these vessels are called ’the choroid’).
MD occurs when this "garbage collection" breaks down and waste products from the retina build up underneath the RPE. These deposits, known as ‘drusen’, are easily seen by your eye care professional as yellow spots.
As MD progresses, vision loss occurs because the RPE cells die or because the RPE cells fail to prevent blood vessels from the choroid from growing into the retina.
In the early stages of MD, when drusen first appear, you may not realise anything is wrong and you may still have normal vision. That is the best time to detect the disease.
Your eye works very similar to a camera. The lens at the front of your eye focuses the image onto the retina which lines the back of the eye. The retina acts like the film in the camera. The image is sent from the retina through the optic nerve and interpreted by our brain.
The Macula is the very centre of the retina. You are reading this text using your macula. It is responsible for your central, detailed vision. It is responsible for your ability to read, distinguish faces, drive a car and any other activities which require fine vision.
Your peripheral retina gives you the ability to see general shapes and gives you your ‘get-about’ or peripheral vision.
Age
Macular Degeneration is primarily age related, affecting one in seven people over the age of 50, in Australia.
Family History
People with a family history of Macular Degeneration have a 50 percent chance of developing the disease.
Smoking
Smokers and people that have smoked are three times more likely to develop Macular Degeneration.
Symptoms
Macular Degeneration can only be diagnosed by examining the retina. This must be undertaken by an eye care professional.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should seek help immediately from an eye care professional:
Difficulty in reading or doing any other activity which requires fine vision
Distortion where straight lines appear wavy or bent
Distinguishing faces becomes a problem
Dark patches or empty spaces appearing in the centre of your vision
The need for increased illumination, sensitivity to glare, decreased night vision and poor colour sensitivity may also indicate that there is something wrong.
Early detection is important !
Early detection of any form of MD is crucial. MD can cause many different symptoms. In its early stages it may go unnoticed. Symptoms should never be dismissed as part of just ‘getting older’.
Detecting changes early allows you to take steps to slow down the progression of Macular Degeneration. The Amsler Grid is an important tool in detecting any changes in vision.
The Amsler Grid is used to test the macula, the very central part of the retina. The test is simply a grid made of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines. A small dot is located in the center of the grid for fixation. Simply follow the instructions below the grid.
While focusing on the dot in the center of the grid, with one eye covered, ask yourself the following questions:
Am I able to see the corners and sides of the square?
Do I see any wavy lines?
Are there any holes or missing areas?
If the lines of grid do not look straight or areas appear to be missing and or distorted, you should inform a retinal specialist
Treatments
Dry Macular Degeneration
There are currently no treatments to reverse the effects of dry MD however you can discuss supplements, diet and your lifestyle with your healthcare professional. It is important to be aware that the dry type can turn into the wet type so it is important to check your Amsler grid and report any changes to your ophthalmologist immediately.
Wet Macular Degeneration
There is no cure for MD. However recent new treatment is providing greater opportunity for many, saving sight and keeping as much vision for as long as possible.
