Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration kind or macular degeneration related to age is the cause of vision loss in people who may be exceeded sixty years of age; a disease that is sabotaging the sharp central vision, where a person needs to central vision to see things clearly and do Bbbed tasks, such as reading and driving.

Macular degeneration affects the spot-kind, "or yellow Stain", which is one of the eye that allows humans to see fine detail sections. Does not cause macular degeneration pain, but it leads to the death constituent spot cells, promoted macular degeneration in some cases, very slowly, with an infected person noticed a slight change in his ability to vision, while promoted disease when other more quickly, and may lead to loss of sight in both eyes .

Helping the overall regular examinations of the eyes to detect macular degeneration before it causes loss of vision, and can slow down the processing of vision loss, but they do not lead to restore it.

an introduction

Macular degeneration age-related disease that affects the central vision; it is the first reason for the lack of sharp eyesight in people who are over sixty years of age.

This is linked to disease or age-related, because it appears as a person to age normally. There are more than one million and six hundred thousand American adults, for example, are infected with age-related macular Baltnks.

 Macular degeneration affects age-related in all of central vision; therefore, it rarely causes blindness. But this disease can make it difficult for patients everyday tasks that require the ability to see the finer things.

This educational program explains what it means to age-related macular degeneration, and how it is diagnosed and treated. It also offers some tips on ways to prevent age-related macular degeneration.

 Anatomy of the eye

This chapter explains the anatomy of the eye; Eyes by visuospatial extremely complex, collects and focus light on the back of the eye, allowing us to see.

The cornea is the transparent layer that covers the front of the eye, allowing light to enter the eye.

Light up to the colored part of the eye, called the iris. And it called the aperture of the iris, which mediates Balhdqh. This, and iris controls the amount of light entering the eye by changing the size of the pupil.

 After the passage of light through the pupil, passes through the transparent lens similar to the camera lens, the focus on the back wall of the eye, or retina.

Light passes after passing through the lens, and before it reaches the retina, through a transparent substance called the vitreous.

The retina, the light when it reaches it, converts optical signals into electrical signals. And it will be sending the electrical signals through the optic nerve to the brain, which transforms them into images.

 There in the center of the retina of the eye area called the yellow spot or macula, which occupy less than ten eye retina total area, as there are in the most sensitive retina valuable spot region, a center click. The fovea be smaller than the point at the end of this sentence. Concentrated light reflected from the external things on the spot, where there are millions of cells that convert the light into signals going to the brain and tells him what his vision taking place; this is what is called central vision.

 Man needs to spot "or yellow splash" sound for normal central vision. This consists of the spot of light-sensitive cells stacked tightly, called rods and cones. These cells, particularly cones, are essential for central vision. Feed bacilli and cones of a layer of blood vessels called the choroid.

The outer surface of the retina consists of a layer of tissue called the retinal pigmented epithelium, an important crossing pass through the nutrients from the choroid to the retina, as well as waste which crossed in the opposite direction taken from the retina to the choroid.

 We can, depending on the central vision, to read and cars and money do other work that needs to be thoroughly looked sharp and straight. The eye can not see the extent of twenty twenty, but in the fovea region. Therefore, it can be just a very small scratch in the fovea leads to a lack of central vision; Vndbh click on the size of a pinhead can make the vision of the twenty-four hundred, and this percentage make it incapable of leadership and the letters read normal print-sized person.

   Causes macular degeneration

Macular degeneration disease that causes the death of cells in the spot. And have the tendency to infection Baltnks degeneration genetically, but this does not mean that everyone who has a family history of macular Baltnks will develop the disease inevitably.

 There were two main types of macular degeneration: dry form of less severe, and the form of hydrated. Disease always starts as dry, which takes cells when the disease die faster than expected during the "incidence of natural aging." With the deterioration of the function of the spot, central vision decline over time. Macular degeneration may affect one eye at first, but it often affects both eyes at the end.

 Infected Baltnks degeneration may be observed in the onset of simple changes, or hardly noticed any changes in visual capacity; Many people who have early stage of macular degeneration may not experience symptoms, such as blurred vision, what did not apply so much in a lifetime. But with the continued emergence of yellow deposits of tiny, transparent called Albrriv Also, mottled pigmentation in the retina, vision begins to decline.

 As it can be promoted thinning pigmented epithelium of the retina to the point with this protective layer of the retina completely disappear, and can affect the rods and cones that were covered in this class, and perhaps the resulting loss of central vision completely.

 Wet macular degeneration occurs when new blood vessels grow is called chorionic new awareness or regenerative, and that of the choroid under the slick area of the retina. The leak of this new blood fluids or blood, and here came the name "wet macular degeneration." This leads to blurred central vision.

 Since almost every person with a wet form of the disease may be a disease began with him as the dry, the affected eye as wet and dry form showing signs of the same almost always, and this marks Albrriv transparent and Almrakec pigmentation in the retina. The infected wet Baltnks seem to him the lines that are supposed to see it straight, wavy or chipped, as a white or blank spots appear in the visual courtyard.

 If the person was injured Baltnks degeneration in one eye, the other eye, the likelihood of injury increases greatly.

Have vision loss in wet form of macular degeneration quickly and deeply in the habit, which causes blindness "legal" which determines that the twenty-two hundred or worse. This means that what he sees as a person who enjoys a level of normal vision about two hundred feet, "sixty-one meters," can not be the person who sees the extent of two hundred twenty to see him only from a distance of twenty feet, which is about six meters. 

Although some patients do not realize they are infected Baltnks degeneration until they reach the wet form, most patients are aware that they are suffering from this disease, and they are still in the stage of the dry form and have mild symptoms or do not suffer from any symptoms.

 The risk of macular Baltnks progress with increasing age; it has the results of a broad study showed that people in the age of fifty are at two per cent for the injury Baltnks degeneration. The risk rises to thirty percent after the age of seventy.

Researchers do not know precisely what causes macular degeneration, but they were able to identify some of the factors involved, including:

     Smoking.
     A family history of injury Baltnks degeneration.
     High cholesterol.

  Symptoms of macular degeneration

May be the first sign of injury Baltnks degeneration is the need for more than the usual lighting minute when doing business; and perhaps become read print letters more difficult minute, and it becomes difficult to distinguish the signs in the streets.

 The patient may be observed in the end it when he looks at a network, that some of the straight lines appear crooked or distorted. And possibly a gray or white spots hide vision Square Center show. The situation often develop gradually, but may develop in some cases, quickly leading to severe it lost the sight in one eye or both.

 Macular degeneration affects the central vision, but it does not affect the peripheral vision. Therefore, it does not cause total blindness. But the clear central vision loss significantly affects the patient with it in everyday life, because it makes it difficult for him to read, or driving a motorcycle or a car, and to distinguish the faces of other people, and that the micro business. The damage caused by macular degeneration beyond repair in most cases, but early detection may reduce the degree of vision loss.

 Macular degeneration usually appear gradually and without causing any pain. The symptoms vary depending on the type of macular suffered by the patient.

The patient may notice Baltnks degeneration dry the following symptoms:

     The need for brighter lighting is increasingly when reading or doing fine work.
     It increasingly difficult to cope with the low lighting levels, as is the case when entering the restaurant with dim lighting, for example.

 The appearance of printed words muddled and unclear.
     Colors appear dull and devoid of luster.
     Difficult to recognize faces.
     A gradual increase in the blurry vision in general.

 Blurred or blind spots in the central visual field, coupled with a steep decline in the severity of central vision.
     The need to rotate the eyes on the thing in all its aspects to form a complete picture of him.

The following symptoms may appear in wet macular degeneration, and can progress quickly:

     Metamorphopsia, straight lines appear, for example, wavy or broken, and it seems the entrance or banner slashes the street, or smaller or far things look than they are in reality.
     Lack or loss of central vision.
     Central spot blurry or grainy.

 It can be disturbed vision in one eye, in both types of macular degeneration, while the vision in the other eye remain intact for many years. The person does not notice any changes or notes minor changes, because the healthy eye compensates for the imbalance in the affected eye. Look and way of life also it begins influenced dramatically when the disease affects both eyes.

Does not cause any of the formality macular degeneration feeling any pain. But the most common symptom in dry form of macular degeneration is blurry light vision.

 People with Baltnks degeneration may need more lighting, to use a magnifying glass to read, and do other fine works. They may also find it difficult to distinguish the faces of other people to become on of them very close range. And it may have difficulty driving at night, even when they are still able to read the plate visual inspection well.

As the incidence of Baltnks degeneration, it becomes difficult for the patient, and, increasingly, to read or watch TV, or driving the car. Some patients may be unable to post a time not long for achieving the conditions for obtaining or maintaining the official driving license. This, According to visual aids many patients at this stage of macular degeneration. Worsening of vision in one eye before the other sometimes. Therefore, the wounded do not suffer from dry macular degeneration noticeable discomfort in vision often, even decreased vision in both eyes.

 It is the early symptoms, when people suffering from wet macular degeneration, a sense that straight lines appear wavy or that there is a dark spot is not moving in the center of vision or near it. This is what happens when the leaking fluid or blood from the blood vessels of the newly formed under the slick, which raises the liquid part of the natural place in the back of the eye, causing vision deformation.

 Another sign of wet macular degeneration, a rapid loss of central vision, in contrast to the slow pace of central vision in macular degeneration and dry loss. However, as is the case in the dry macular degeneration, can be infected notes Baltnks wet macular blind spot as well. In fact, blind spot be more of them are seen in wet form in the dry form.

You should check the eye doctor if the person noticed any changes in central vision, or the ability to see colors accurate, especially the details if the person has exceeded the age of fifty.

 Diagnosed with macular degeneration

The best way to discover the incidence of age-related macular Baltnks to conduct regular check-ups for the eyes, especially since infected with this disease may not notice the early signs of infection.

This should include a thorough examination of the eye:

     Examination of visual capability: by means of a visual inspection of the panel that measure a person's ability to see things from different distances.

 Mydriasis: An examination of the doctor can see the retina better, and allows him to search for signs of infection Baltnks degeneration. In order to do this examination, the drops are placed in the eye to widen the pupil. But, there may remain blurred vision for several hours after the examination is finished.

Albrriv is transparent, a yellow-minute deposits in the retina can be seen during an eye exam, one of the familiar signs of injury Baltnks degeneration.

But having Albrriv transparent is not always satisfactory indicator, but its presence may indicate that the eye is in danger of the emergence of a severe case of macular degeneration associated with age.

There are several tests that can be useful in evaluating the case of age-related macular Baltnks.

Eye doctor or assistant may ask the patient to look at a small network similar to the chess board, called the Amsler grid; where this test allows the patient to monitor its consideration of the house in the period between two visits to the doctor. And in it, the patient to cover one of his eyes, and stared at the white dot in the center of the web.

If you looked grid lines of the patient, as he stared at the point on the plate, or some undulating lines began to disappear, it may be of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration markers.

If the doctor suspects that a patient suffering from the wet form of macular degeneration, has asked him to perform a test called angiography Filuricina, where it is injected pigmentary material in a vein in the arm to do this test.

  The images capture the eye when they pass Article pigmented retinal vessels. And these pictures help the doctor on the blood vessels leaking fluid and blood test, and decide whether it was possible to address them.

  Treat macular degeneration

There is no treatment available to reverse dry macular degeneration path. But that does not mean that the patient will lose inevitably full consideration of the ultimate; Valtnks dry degeneration usually develops slowly, and can a lot of patients to live a fairly normal life productive, especially if there have been infected with one eye only.

 A must for any person who, if he was injured Baltnks degeneration dry, that:

     It is an examination of the eyes with the expansion of the pupil once a year at least.
     Have the Amsler grid so that can make a quick and inexpensive evaluation of visual ability every day, to search for signs of macular wet. This examination more useful for patients who still have good central vision.

 Test the visual ability by reading the newspaper and watching television and looking at people's faces. But examination of each eye separately is also important; if the patient noticed any changes, he should contact a doctor eyes and check out my eyes urgently.

Some roads or options are available to treat wet macular degeneration, but success in stopping the progression of the disease depends on where the abnormal blood vessels and its extension.

Can not repair the damage caused by macular degeneration in most cases. But, the more quickly the disease was discovered, was a chance that the patient is in treatment lead to the preservation of what remains of central vision has the best.

Rely possibilities treatment of wet macular degeneration at eye level before treatment, and attributes specific to the disease, as shown by angiography Filuricina.

Where it can, in some cases, the treatment of wet macular degeneration if the injury did not affect the fovea after, by laser surgery, where he directed high-energy beam of light to the leaky blood vessels directly.

If the blood vessels in the continued cold infusion, the patient may need a second surgery laser. It is important to know that laser surgery is not curative for macular degeneration, but its usefulness lies in stopping further vision loss in some patients.

The danger of the return of the growth of new blood vessels after laser treatment, up to a point.

Other treatments are available, in addition to laser surgery, treatment of new blood vessels that fall under the center of vision completely. While these treatments do not dry macular degeneration wet when all patients, but it can be useful indeed to some; however, it is important to know that none of these treatments do not reflect the process of macular degeneration, but is dried leaked fluid only in the wet form and maintain the stability of Vision. It is useful when all patients.

 One of these processors:

     Phototherapy "Balvesodan." Alvesodan patient takes dye intravenously, then the retina specialist directing low-energy dose of laser (called "cold laser" sometimes) to wet macular area to activate Alvesodan. And should the patient who receives this treatment should avoid exposure to sunlight and halogen light bulbs for five days after treatment, to avoid the risk of serious burns sun.

  Almakojin injection in the eye. And Almakojin is a medicine that causes new blood vessels leaky drying in some patients with wet macular degeneration. It must be injected directly into the eye by a needle-minute visits every six weeks for two years. But, there is a slight risk of exposure to infection eye retinal detachment as a result of the injection into the eye. Therefore, you should patients receiving this treatment is closely monitored. We should discuss this type of treatment with your doctor.

 Surgery transfer spot, a treatment that can be used if the abnormal blood vessels were completely present under the fovea; where the surgeon in this way the separation of the retina and the transfer-per-click away from new vessels, or choroidal regenerative and reposition it on the proper texture.

When blood revealed new choroid or regenerative, the surgeon can be removed by forceps or flour using a laser to destroy these vessels without harming click. But, do not use this method only if the newly vision loss, and blood was limited regenerative proliferation, which was weaving around the fovea intact.

  The patient should discuss remedies available with the doctor if he was suffering from wet macular degeneration.

 Adapt to age-related macular degeneration

There are several ways to cope with visual impairment, and these are some suggestions:

     Avoid driving in certain circumstances, the patient must not drive a car at night and during traffic congestion and bad weather or highways.

     Others use during travel. The patient should use public transport or seek the help of family members, especially when driving at night.

 Not to travel alone. Contact with the competent local affairs of the elderly for a list of transportation means available to them, and the volunteer networks.

     Use of appropriate glasses. The patient can improve visual ability using the appropriate glasses, glasses and keep a backup at hand.

     Use a magnifying glass. The reading in books and newspapers printed in large letters can make reading easier, too.

  Browse the Internet using the zoom feature. Find Web sites that use lines of large size, or change the font size on the screen.

     The use of appropriate hardware and tools. Some clocks are used, radios, and other devices, letters and numbers bulky.

Use appropriate lighting in the home. This helps to read and to do business and other activities.
     To get rid of potential home hazards. You must remove anything that might endanger the patient to the risk of default, as spare carpet abandoned and others.

 Ask for help from family members and friends. Patients should tell them from considering the problems he has, and request help when you do some work and to identify other people.

 Avoid isolation from the people. Of the causes of frustration familiar, when people who suffer from macular degeneration, the inability to distinguish other people and address them by name. And the patient in this case to ask the people who know them that Hristioh and mention their names when Altqouna on the street or anywhere else to be able to salute.

Take advantage of Internet features. Internet is a good source of support groups and support and other resources for people with Baltnks degeneration.

     Talk to your doctor. You can consult your doctor about the need for professional help to make the patient in a more secure and comfortable home life.

 It does not harm the normal use of the eyes vision. Even when a person has lost a bit of his eyesight due to macular degeneration, we should not fear the use of his eyes in reading, watching television and other daily activities.

Available utilities for lack of sight, own Kaladsat or electronic magnifying devices, to help people make the most of the rest of the visual ability.

Prevention of macular degeneration

The patient can take some steps to help slow down the process of macular degeneration and dry, and reduce the risk of transformation into a wet form of macular degeneration. Here are the current recommendations for patients with dry macular degeneration:

  Taking vitamins and mineral supplements. A recent study showed that a combination of the vitamin and vitamin E and beta carotene, zinc and copper delay the worsening of macular degeneration and dry, and decrease the probability of its wet form by twenty to twenty-five percent. Therefore, the patient should be an eye doctor asks what if it is possible to benefit from the vitamins and minerals mentioned in this study.

 Wear sunglasses that block harmful UV rays. Can help the orange lenses, or yellow or amber colored, the liquidation of both UV and blue light. The main purpose of these glasses is to protect the surface of the eyes and skin of the eyelids. Also should look for glasses that liquidates ninety-nine to one hundred percent of UV A and UV-B; rays are ultraviolet A penetrates deeper, while the UV-B have a more superficial effect.

 stop smoking. Smokers are more prone to injury Baltnks degeneration than non-smokers. Therefore, you must request the assistance of a physician to stop smoking. And for people who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking not eat beta-carotene, it increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

Treatment of other diseases. If the patient is suffering from cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure - for example - well, then take medication and follow your doctor's instructions to control the disease

Conducting regular examinations of the eyes. Increase early detection of macular degeneration of the patient an opportunity to prevent serious vision loss. Therefore, a person must examine his eyes

  every two to four years if he was more than forty years, and every year or two if it is greater than sixty-five years; if he has a family history of Baltnks degeneration, he should check his eyes more dates convergence, perhaps annually.

 Optometry regularly. Your doctor may suggest to the patient, that person has an early stage of macular degeneration at an early stage, that monitors the systematic consideration of the house by Amsler grid; it helps him to do so to detect subtle changes in vision has when they appear, seek help immediately.

Conclusion

The age-related macular degeneration, a serious disease of the eyes.

It helps both proper nutrition and eating the proper vitamins and avoid smoking to slow down the march of progress macular degeneration associated with age.

 It can be detected and treated Alambkran, especially for wet macular degeneration, crucial in the prevention of the loss of the broad vision. Therefore, it is important for all older patients that they conduct examination of their eyes at least once a year for the detection of macular degeneration. Once the diagnosis of this disease, it is important to follow your doctor's advice about the appropriate rate of re-examination of the eyes, it can detect treatable timely pests.