फिट दिल्‍ली: कैसे दें गर्मी की उमस को मात: AAJ TAK: Fit Delhi

फिट दिल्‍ली: कैसे दें गर्मी की उमस को मात: AAJ TAK: Fit Delhi

Age related macular degeneration ARMD (AMD)

ARMD stands for Age Related Macular Degeneration. These are aging changes occurring in the macular area, which affects our vision. Since macula is the area responsible for main or central vision, even small changes can cause major visual problem. It affects one eye followed by the involvement of the second eye.

Symptoms of Age related macular degeneration

• Blurry distance and/or reading vision
• Dark areas or distorted central vision ----straight lines will appear bent, crooked or irregular
• Need for increasingly bright light to see up close
• Colors appear less vivid or bright
• Hazy vision
• Difficulty seeing when going from bright light to low light (such as entering a dimly lit room from the bright outdoors)
• Trouble or inability to recognize people's faces
• Dark gray spots or blank spots in your vision
• Loss of central vision
• Size of objects may appear different for each eye

You may not notice vision changes if only one eye is affected, as your unaffected eye will compensate for vision loss in the other eye.
  
If you think you are suffering from Age related macular degeneration (ARMD), Meet our eye specialist today for a free consultation and eye checkup. - Click here Book an appointment now (it's FREE)!

Risk factors for macular degeneration

• Genetic predisposition-family history present in closely related family members.
• Aging-Incidence increases from2% in 50’s to 30% in 70’s.
• Approximately 1 in 3 Caucasians have genetic changes that make them more prone to damage from oxidative stress, which can lead to macular degeneration.
• Smoking and high blood pressure are associated with the wet form of macular degeneration.
• There may be a link between being obese and having early or intermediate-stage macular degeneration develop into the advanced (wet) form.
• Another risk factor for developing macular degeneration may include having abnormal cholesterol levels.
• An overactive immune system with its associated inflammation may be a risk factor for macular degeneration.

Diagnosis of Age related macular degeneration

• Complete eye check up with dilated fundus examination by a eye specialist.
• Amsler Grid test for each eye with near correction/glasses, where patients suffering from ARMD see lines as wavy, dark or blur.
• Fundus fluorsceine angiography (F.F.A)
• Optical coherence tomography (O.C.T)

Types of macular degeneration

Dry macular degeneration
With dry macular degeneration, vision loss is usually gradual. People who develop dry macular degeneration must carefully and constantly monitor their central vision. If you notice any changes in your vision, you should tell your ophthalmologist right away, as the dry form can change into the more damaging form of macular degeneration called wet (exudative) macular degeneration. While there is no treatment for dry macular degeneration some people may benefit from a vitamin and antioxidant therapy regimen.

Wet (exudative) macular degeneration also called neovascular macular degeneration
About 10-15 percent of people who have macular degeneration have the wet form, but it can cause more damage to your central or detail vision than the dry form.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow underneath the retina. This blood vessel growth is called choroidal neovascularization (CNV) because these vessels grow from the layer under the retina called the choroid. These new blood vessels may leak fluid or blood, blurring or distorting central vision. Vision loss from this form of macular degeneration may be faster and more noticeable than that from dry macular degeneration.

The longer these abnormal vessels leak or grow, the more risk you have of losing more of your detailed vision. Also, if abnormal blood vessel growth happens in one eye, there is a risk that it will occur in the other eye. The earlier that wet macular degeneration is diagnosed and treated, the better chance you have of preserving some or much of your central vision. That is why it is so important that you and your ophthalmologist monitor your vision in each eye carefully.

Treatment for Age related macular degeneration

The AREDS –age related eye disease study that among people at high risk for developing late-stage, or wet, macular degeneration (such as those who have large amounts of drusen or who have significant vision loss in at least one eye), taking a dietary supplement of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene, along with zinc, lowered the risk of macular degeneration progressing to advanced stages by about 25 percent. The daily supplements also reduced the risk of vision loss for those at risk by about 19 percent. The supplements did not appear to provide a benefit for people with minimal macular degeneration or people without evidence of the disease during the course of the study.

Following is the nutrient supplementation shown to be beneficial in lowering the risk of macular degeneration progressing to advanced stages:

• Vitamin C – 500 mg
• Vitamin E – 400 IU
• Beta carotene – 15 mg (25,000 IU)
• Zinc oxide – 80 mg
• Copper (as cupric oxide) – 2 mg (to prevent copper deficiency, which may be associated with taking high amounts of zinc)

Another large study in women showed a benefit from taking folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12. And a large study evaluating the possible benefits of lutein and fish oil (omega-3) is ongoing. Other studies have shown that eating dark leafy greens, and yellow, orange and other colorful fruits and vegetables, rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, may reduce your risk for developing macular degeneration.

Beta carotene has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers or recent past smokers, so this supplement should not be used by people who currently smoke or recently quit smoking.

It is very important to remember that vitamin supplements are not a cure for neither macular degeneration, nor will they give you back vision that you may have already lost from the disease. However, specific amounts of these supplements do play a key role in helping some people at high risk for developing advanced (wet) AMD to maintain their vision.

Talk with your ophthalmologist to find out if you are at risk for developing advanced macular degeneration, and to learn if supplements are recommended for you.

Wet macular degeneration treatment

Treating the wet form of macular degeneration may involve the use of anti-VEGF treatment, thermal laser treatment or photodynamic therapy (PDT).There are many effective anti-VEGF drugs available in market, but mostly multiple injections are required. Thermal laser treatment and PDT too may require multiple sittings. All of them can be performed as outpatient procedure. It is very important to monitor your vision on Amsler grid routinely. Treatment of wet macular degeneration generally reduces—but does not eliminate-- the risk of severe vision loss.

People with wet or dry ARMD who cannot be treated will not become blind, as they will still have peripheral, or side, vision.

If you have untreatable macular degeneration, you can make the most of remaining vision by learning to “see again” with the vision you do have and with the help of special low-vision rehabilitation, devices and services. People with low vision can learn new strategies to accomplish daily activities. These skills, including mastering new techniques and devices, help people with advanced AMD regain their confidence and live independently despite loss of central vision.

While there is little that can be done to improve the eyesight of someone who has AMD, with early detection, the rate of vision loss can be slowed. The keys to slowing vision loss are to understand macular degeneration, monitor your symptoms and visit your ophthalmologist regularly to test your vision. Even with macular degeneration, you can still maintain an enjoyable lifestyle. 

If you are suffering from Age related macular degeneration (ARMD), Meet our eye specialist today for a free consultation and eye checkup. - Click here Book an appointment now! (it's FREE)