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FAQs about Eye Diseases: What is Macular Degeneration?

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When it comes to eye diseases, most people are familiar with glaucoma and cataracts, but few know about Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that directly affects the macula, the small area of the retina that is responsible for central vision. AMD occurs in two forms:

  • Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (common): Tiny yellow deposits, called drusen, develop beneath the macula, signaling degeneration and thinning of nerve tissue.
  • Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (less common): Abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the macula, leaking blood and fluid onto and underneath the retina. This kills retinal cells, causing blurring, distortion, and blank spots in your field of vision.

Interesting Macular Degenerations Facts & Statistics

  • More than 13 million Americans are affected by AMD.
  • Nearly 90% of all diagnosed AMD is the dry form.
  • About 10% of cases of dry macular degeneration develop into the wet, or neovascular, form of AMD.
  • Globally, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss and is responsible for some 50% of visual impairment.
  • AMD is uncommon in people younger than 55.
  • Women are slightly more likely than men to develop AMD.
  • Studies show that obesity, smoking, and exposure to UV rays may also be risk factors for developing AMD.

Signs and Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

In its early stages, AMD may not present any signs or symptoms. As the eye disease progresses, however, signs and symptoms become much more prevalent and include:

  • The distortion or blurring of central vision
  • Difficulty performing everyday tasks like driving or reading
  • Inability to see small details or fine print
  • Difficulty recognizing faces
  • Need for more light while reading or working
  • Dark or blurry areas in the center of vision (blind spots)
  • Changed color perception
  • Inability to focus properly on a single point within a grid

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, contact your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – at your earliest convenience. The early detection of macular degeneration is critical to the long-term treatment of the eye disease.

Recent innovations in AMD treatment can slow or even halt the progression of retinal changes.

“There are good modern treatments available for patients who lose vision due to AMD,” said board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Cuong Vu of Retina Associates. “[But] early detection and prevention are the keys to success.”

To learn more about Macular Degeneration, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Macular Degeneration Health Center

The Link between Stem Cell Research and Macular Degeneration

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According to a recent study, Stem Cell Research could help patients with Macular Degeneration. Two legally blind women, one with dry macular degeneration and the other with Stargardt’s disease, were the first people to ever receive new retina cells grown from human embryonic stem cells.

  1. Dry Macular Degeneration: The dry form of macular degeneration, the more common of the two forms, is characterized by the presence of yellow deposits, called drusen, in the macula. As these drusen grow in size, they may distort your vision.
  2. Stargardt’s Disease: This disease is the leading cause of macular degeneration in young people.

Both are progressive and untreatable.

Stem Cell Research

What is Macular Degeneration?

The leading cause of irreversible blindness in people over the age of 60, macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that causes damage to the Macula, which is the most concentrated central portion of the retina.

The Link between Stem Cell Research and Macular Degeneration

After receiving the new retina cells, both of the aforementioned patients have experienced improved peripheral vision. Both still have permanent central vision loss.

“They do have some improvement in peripheral vision around the central blind spot, which is not coming back,” said study co-leader Steven D. Schwartz, MD, chief of the retina division at Los Angeles’ Jules Stein Eye Institute, tells WebMD.

Stem cell research is being developed as a way to help prevent vision loss in patients with early-stage macular degeneration. Dr. Schwartz warns readers that stem cell research is not a treatment for blindness. But initial results are encouraging for those with macular degeneration.

“Before treatment, one patient could only see hand motion. She could not read any letters [on an eye chart],” said study co-leader Robert Lanza, MD. Lanza, chief scientific officer for Advanced Cell Technology Inc. “By one month she could read five letters. But that does not capture the difference in her life. She could see more color. She had better contrast in the operated eye and no improvement in untreated eye. She mentioned she could start using her computer and even start reading her watch.”

Still, researchers are hesitant to proclaim victory yet, noting the results could simply be a placebo effect. This is just phase I of the study. Only time will tell if stem cell research can truly be a viable treatment for macular degeneration.

“This is an exciting first step, albeit preliminary,” said Anthony Atala, MD, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University. “This is the first published report of patients treated with human embryonic stem cells with a follow-up that shows both safety and efficacy.”

If you have any questions about how The Link Between Stem Cell Research and Macular Degeneration, or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Stem Cells: New Hope for Macular Degeneration

The Link between Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, & Fruits and Vegetables

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Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye disease that causes damage to the Macular, the part of the retina portion of the eye.  AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in those over the age of 65. Cataracts, another eye disease affecting aging Americans, develop when proteins in the eye’s lens form abnormal clumps that gradually get larger, clouding the eye and distorting vision. Nearly 50% of those age 65 and older have cataracts.

So what is the Link between Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, & Fruits and Vegetables?

Studies suggest that the risk of both eye diseases can be decreased with diets that are rich in fruits and vegetable. More specifically, fruits and vegetables that are high in lutein and zeaxanthin. These chemicals work as antioxidants, protecting the eye from free radical damage. Eating fruits and vegetables high in lutein and zeaxanthin, such as  Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach, Brussels Sprouts, Corn, Avacados, Grapes, Orange Huice, and more, have been found to increase the concentration of these chemicals in the blood and in the eye.

Additional Tips to Help

  1. Fatty fish at least once a week may reduce the risk of AMD by as much as 50%.
  2. Eating fatty fish at least once a day may reduce the risk of AMD by as much as 70%.
  3. Rest, exercise, and protective eyewear can also help reduce the risk of AMD.

Of course, nothing replaces regular Comprehensive Ophthalmic Eye Exams with your ophthalmologist.

The Anne Arundel Eye Center, led by Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, offers comprehensive ophthalmic exams to help diagnose eye problems, such as AMD and cataracts. Dr. Boles and his staff have helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision. He is also passionate about educating patients and their families regarding prevention and treatment.

“I treat my patients the way I want to be treated when I see a doctor.” – Dr. Boles

To learn more about The Link between Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, & Fruits and Vegetables, please contact Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Source:

Vision Quest: Keep an Eye (or Two) Out for These Foods WebMD

Are Eye Diseases, like Glaucoma & Cataracts, on the Rise?

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According to a new report by Prevent Blindness America, eye diseases are rising at an alarming rate in the United States, with many of these vision problems are severe enough to cause vision loss or even blindness.

United States Eye Disease Statistics

  • Instances of Diabetic Retinopathy, which involves damage to the blood vessels in the retina, have risen 89% over the past 12 years., now affecting nearly 8 million Americans over the age of 40.
  • Instances of Macular Degeneration, which affects the part of the eye (macula) that provides sharp, central vision, have risen 25%, now affecting more than 2 million American over the age of 50.
  • Instances of Cataracts, which is the leading cause of vision loss among adults 55 and older, have risen 19%. The eye disease now affects more than 24 million Americans over the age of 40.
  • Instances of Open Angle Glaucoma, which is the most common type of glaucoma, have risen 22%, now affecting more than 3 million American over the age of 40.
  • 34 million Americans over the age of 40 have Myopia (Nearsightedness).
  • 14 million Americans over the age of 40 have Hyperopia (Farsightedness).
  • 2.9 million Americans suffer from Low Vision.
  • Currently, about 1.3 million Americans are Legally Blind.

Preventing Vision Loss

The best way to protect your eye health is by getting regular eye checkups from your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist.  During your checkup, your eye doctor will not only evaluate your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, but he/she will also inspect your eyes for common eye diseases and other problems that could lead to vision loss.

To learn more about Eye Diseases or Proper Eye Health, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Eye Diseases Rising at a Rapid Rate in U.S.

 

The Elderly are at an Increased Risk for Eye Disease

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 In a statement by National Eye Institute Director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., on World Sight Day 2011, the Director urged older Americans to protect their vision. Because, as Sieving explained, older people are simply at an increased risk for eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Diabetic Retinopathy. 

AMD – This eye disease can cause loss of central vision due to the breakdown of the light-sensing cells in the retina.

Cataracts – This eye disease clouds vision because of a clumping of proteins in the eye’s lens.

Glaucoma – This eye disease involves damage to the optic nerve caused by increased intraocular pressure (IOP).

Diabetic Retinopathy – This eye disease impairs vision due to diabetes-related injury to the eye’s blood vessels.

Early stages of these diseases have no symptoms, which is why regular eye exams are crucial to catching eye disease before permanent vision loss occurs. The importance of early detection and treatment of age-related eye disease cannot be overstated.

If you experience a sudden change in vision, such as blurriness/blurry vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately. If this change in vision is extreme or if any eye pain is involved, consider having a family member or friend drive you to the emergency room.

Any change in your sight is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Led by Dr. Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers complete ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well!

Sources:

National Eye Institute urges older Americans to protect their vision

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