What is macular degeneration. How does it affect vision. What are the different types of macular degeneration. What causes macular degeneration. How is macular degeneration diagnosed and treated. Can nutritional supplements help prevent or slow macular degeneration. What low vision aids are available for people with macular degeneration.

Understanding Macular Degeneration: A Comprehensive Overview

Macular degeneration is an age-related eye condition that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. As the condition progresses, it can significantly impact a person’s ability to see clearly, particularly when looking straight ahead. While macular degeneration doesn’t cause total blindness, it can make everyday tasks like reading, driving, and recognizing faces challenging.

The Anatomy of the Eye in Macular Degeneration

To understand macular degeneration, it’s crucial to have a basic grasp of eye anatomy. The retina, located at the back of the eye, functions like the film in a camera, capturing images that pass through the lens. Within the retina, the macula plays a vital role in central vision. When macular degeneration occurs, this area becomes damaged, leading to distorted or blurred central vision while peripheral vision remains intact.

Types of Macular Degeneration: Dry vs. Wet AMD

Macular degeneration is primarily categorized into two types: dry (atrophic) and wet (exudative) AMD. Understanding the differences between these types is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dry Macular Degeneration

Dry AMD is the most common form, accounting for approximately 90% of all cases. It develops gradually over time as the tissues of the macula break down. One of the hallmark signs of dry AMD is the presence of drusen, yellow deposits beneath the retina visible during eye examinations.

Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet AMD, while less common (affecting about 10% of patients), is often more severe and can progress rapidly. In this form, abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina, leaking fluid and blood. This can lead to sudden vision changes and more significant visual impairment if left untreated.

Causes and Risk Factors for Macular Degeneration

While the exact cause of macular degeneration remains unknown, several factors contribute to its development:

• Age: The risk increases significantly after age 50
• Genetics: Family history can play a role
• Smoking: A major modifiable risk factor
• High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease
• Obesity
• Diet low in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids
• Prolonged sun exposure without proper eye protection

It’s important to note that macular degeneration is not caused by any specific actions of the patient. Rather, it’s a complex interplay of genetic predisposition and environmental factors.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

Early detection of macular degeneration is crucial for managing the condition effectively. What are the tell-tale signs of macular degeneration? Common symptoms include:

• Blurred or fuzzy central vision
• Difficulty reading or recognizing faces
• Straight lines appearing wavy or distorted
• Dark or empty areas in the center of vision
• Colors appearing less vibrant
• Increased sensitivity to glare

In the case of wet AMD, symptoms may appear suddenly and progress rapidly. Dry AMD, on the other hand, typically develops more gradually over time.

Diagnostic Procedures for Macular Degeneration

Proper diagnosis of macular degeneration involves a comprehensive eye examination and may include several specialized tests:

Visual Acuity Test

This standard eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.

Dilated Eye Exam

By dilating your pupils, your eye care professional can examine the retina and optic nerve for signs of AMD and other eye problems.

Amsler Grid

This simple test helps detect changes in your central vision. Looking at a grid pattern, you may notice wavy, blurred, or missing lines if macular degeneration is present.

Fluorescein Angiography

For suspected cases of wet AMD, this test involves injecting a dye into the arm, which then travels to the blood vessels in the eye. Special photos are taken to reveal any leaking blood vessels characteristic of wet AMD.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

This non-invasive imaging test provides detailed cross-sectional images of the retina, allowing for the detection of fluid or structural changes associated with AMD.

Treatment Options for Macular Degeneration

While there is no cure for macular degeneration, various treatment options can help slow its progression and manage symptoms:

Treatment for Dry AMD

For dry AMD, treatment focuses on slowing the progression of the disease and managing symptoms:

• Nutritional supplements: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that a specific combination of vitamins and minerals can slow the progression of AMD in certain patients.
• Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet rich in leafy greens and fish, exercising regularly, and protecting eyes from UV light can all help.
• Regular monitoring: Frequent eye exams to track the progression of the disease.

Treatment for Wet AMD

Wet AMD treatment options aim to stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels:

• Anti-VEGF injections: These medications, injected directly into the eye, block the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
• Photodynamic therapy: A combination of a light-sensitive drug and a cold laser can help seal off leaking blood vessels.
• Laser photocoagulation: In some cases, a high-energy laser beam can destroy abnormal blood vessels.

The Role of Nutritional Supplements in Macular Degeneration

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) has shed light on the potential benefits of nutritional supplements in managing macular degeneration. What did this landmark study reveal about supplements and eye health?

The AREDS study, sponsored by the National Eye Institute, found that a specific formulation of vitamins and minerals could reduce the risk of advanced AMD progression by about 19% in high-risk patients. This formulation includes:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Beta-carotene (later studies replaced this with lutein and zeaxanthin)
• Zinc
• Copper

It’s important to note that these supplements do not prevent the initial development of AMD, nor do they improve vision already lost to AMD. They are most beneficial for individuals with intermediate AMD or advanced AMD in one eye.

Always consult with your eye care professional before starting any supplement regimen, as high doses of certain vitamins and minerals can have side effects or interact with other medications.

Low Vision Aids and Adaptive Technologies

For individuals living with macular degeneration, various low vision aids and adaptive technologies can help maintain independence and quality of life. What options are available for those with diminished central vision?

Optical Low Vision Aids

• Magnifying spectacles
• Hand-held or stand magnifiers
• Telescopic devices for distance vision
• High-powered reading glasses

Non-Optical Aids

• Large-print books and newspapers
• Audio books and screen readers
• Talking watches and clocks
• High-contrast keyboards and phone keypads

Electronic Aids

• Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems
• Computer software with text-to-speech capabilities
• Smartphone apps designed for low vision users
• Electronic reading devices with adjustable text size and contrast

Working with a low vision specialist can help determine which aids and technologies are most suitable for an individual’s specific needs and remaining vision capabilities.

Living with Macular Degeneration: Coping Strategies and Support

A diagnosis of macular degeneration can be emotionally challenging. How can individuals and their families cope with the changes brought on by this condition?

Emotional Support

Joining support groups or seeking counseling can provide emotional support and practical advice for dealing with vision loss. Connecting with others who are experiencing similar challenges can be incredibly beneficial.

Home Modifications

Simple changes to the home environment can make a big difference:

• Improving lighting
• Reducing glare
• Using contrasting colors to make objects more visible
• Organizing belongings in a consistent manner

Maintaining Independence

Learning new ways to perform daily tasks can help maintain independence. Occupational therapists specializing in low vision can provide valuable training and techniques.

Staying Active and Engaged

Continuing to participate in hobbies and social activities is important for mental health. Many activities can be adapted for those with low vision.

Regular Eye Care

Continuing regular check-ups with an eye care professional is crucial for monitoring the progression of the disease and adjusting treatment plans as needed.

Research and Future Directions in Macular Degeneration Treatment

The field of macular degeneration research is rapidly evolving, with promising developments on the horizon. What new treatments and technologies are researchers exploring?

Stem Cell Therapy

Scientists are investigating the potential of stem cells to replace damaged retinal cells and restore vision in AMD patients.

Gene Therapy

Researchers are exploring ways to use gene therapy to slow or prevent the progression of AMD by targeting specific genetic factors associated with the disease.

New Drug Delivery Methods

Innovative methods for delivering medications, such as long-lasting implants, could reduce the frequency of treatments for wet AMD.

Combination Therapies

Combining different treatment approaches, such as anti-VEGF injections with light-based therapies, may prove more effective than single treatments alone.

Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis

AI-powered imaging analysis could lead to earlier detection and more personalized treatment plans for AMD patients.

While these areas of research offer hope for future treatments, it’s important for individuals with macular degeneration to work closely with their eye care professionals to manage their condition using currently available therapies and technologies.

Macular degeneration, while challenging, does not have to mean the end of an active and fulfilling life. With proper management, support, and the use of adaptive technologies, many individuals with AMD continue to lead independent and satisfying lives. As research progresses, the future holds promise for even better treatments and potential breakthroughs in managing this common eye condition.

Conditions: Macular Degeneration | Eugene Eye Care

What is Macular Degeneration?

The circular structure on the far left is the optic nerve. About one inch to the right of the optic nerve is the “macula” of the retina of this patient’s left eye. The white spots (called “drusen”) are deposits of metabolism of the retinal cells. The metabolism weakens as a process of aging and macular cells become damaged.

The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for central fine vision. The retina is the part of the back of the eye that one sees with. Similar to the film in a camera, the retina receives the images that come through the “camera-like” lens. If the macula is damaged, the central part of the image is blocked. The images around the periphery of the image may be visible. Macular Degeneration is a damage to the macula that occurs in some people as a natural process of aging. There is nothing known that patients do to cause this condition. Some recent studies have shown some benefit with the use of antioxidant vitamins. See your physician before taking any medication. Since macular degeneration preserves peripheral or side vision, macular degeneration alone never causes total blindness. However, it can make reading or close work difficult or impossible without the use of special low vision aids.

Causes and Symptoms

The most common form of macular degeneration is called “dry type”. This is associated with aging. It is caused by a breakdown of the tissues of the macula. Approximately 10% of macular degeneration is called exudative or “wet” type. In this case, small blood vessels begin to grow abnormally behind the retina often leading to scarring and reduced vision. While the “dry” type often produces symptoms gradually over many years, the “wet” type can produce a sudden onset. These blood vessels are very delicate and leak into the retina. Sometimes a laser beam is used to seal off the leaking blood vessels. A dye test, called a fluorescein angiogram, is used to identify the exact location of the leakage. This treatment is only done in the very early stages of the condition. The hope is that laser will reduce further loss of vision by preventing progressive scarring.

The macula controls the central fine vision. With macular degeneration, a blurred or crooked central part of a page may be seen by the patient.

Low Vision Aids

Low vision optical aids often improve vision for people with macular degeneration. Many different types of magnifying devices are available. Spectacles, hand or stand magnifiers, telescopes, and closed circuit television for viewing objects are some of the available resources. Bright illumination with special lamps can be helpful as well as books, newspapers, and other items in large print. Books on tape are available from the state library in Salem. Also, local service from the Oregon Commission for the Blind on Willamette street is available.

Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)

Vitamin & Mineral Supplements and Your Eyes

Scientists have long debated whether taking vitamin and/or mineral supplements could help prevent, treat or cure certain eye conditions. Some early scientific studies seemed to show that supplements had the potential to prevent or slow the progression of cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), although more complete study was needed to answer some important questions:

• Which supplements are helpful for which condition(s)?
• Which patients will benefit from supplementation?
• What doses of supplements would benefit patients?
• What other effects might these supplements have on the body?

A recent study, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), sought to address these questions, and seems to have given us some (but not all) of the answers to these questions.

What is AREDS?

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) is a major study sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government’s National Institutes of Health, and conducted at 11 major medical center research facilities around the country.

In the study, scientists looked at the effects of zinc and antioxidants, and a combination of both, on patients with cataracts, and on those with varying stages and types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). They also studied patients without evidence of cataract or AMD to determine if zinc and/or antioxidants can prevent the development of these conditions.

What Were the Results?

The study showed a number of important things:

High levels of antioxidants and zinc can reduce the risk of vision loss from advanced AMD by about 19% in high-risk patients (patients with intermediate AMD or advanced AMD in one eye but not the other).

• Supplements do not provide significant benefit to patients with minimal AMD.
• These nutritional supplements do not prevent the initial development of AMD, nor do they improve vision already lost to AMD.
• Nutritional supplements do not seem to prevent cataracts, or to keep them from getting worse over time.
• While most patients in the study experienced no serious side effects from the doses of zinc and antioxidants used, a few taking zinc alone had urinary tract problems that required hospitalization. Some patients taking large doses of antioxidants experienced some yellowing of the skin. The long-term effects of taking large doses of these supplements are still unknown.

Should I Take Nutritional Supplements?

If you have intermediate (or advanced AMD in one eye only), talk to your physician about taking nutritional supplements. He or she can help you determine if they may be beneficial (and safe) for you, and what types and doses of supplements to take. The doses used in the study were:

• Vitamin C 500 mg
• Vitamin E 400 IU
• Beta-carotene 15 mg or 25000 IU
• Zinc 80 mg, as zinc oxide
• Copper 2 mg, as cupric oxide (copper should be taken with zinc, because high-dose zinc is associated with copper deficiency.)

It is very important to talk with your physician before taking large-dose supplements, and to follow his or her dosage recommendations carefully. Some supplements may interfere with each other or other medications.

Smokers and ex-smokers probably should not take beta-carotene, as studies have shown a link between beta-carotene use and lung cancer among smokers.

Where Can I Get More Information?

More information on AREDS is available from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health website link: Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) National Eye Institute.

Your eye physician is your best source of information about eye care. You can also get trustworthy information from the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s partner Web site, Medem, www.medem.com/MedLB/bufferpage_aao.cfm.

AmericanAcademy of Ophthalmology
October 2001

The ABC’s of Drusen | OHSU

Extensive drusen, as shown in this retina photo, increases your risk of AMD

You’ve just had a routine eye exam and your ophthalmologist notices tiny yellow deposits under your retina. Although common in aging eyes, you’re told that these spots, called drusen, may be an early sign of age-related macular degeneration.

Should you be alarmed? What exactly are drusen and what role do they play in the development of AMD, a progressive eye condition that can impair central vision?

“As we get older, the cell layers in the retina may not function as well as before, and waste deposits in the form of fatty proteins begin to build up,” explained retina specialist Christina Flaxel, M. D., director of the Wold Family Macular Degeneration Center at OHSU Casey Eye Institute.  ”On their own, drusen usually don’t cause visual problems, and patients may not know they have them until they have a dilated exam.”

However, people with many large, soft deposits clustered together are at higher risk for macular degeneration than those with a few small,  scattered drusen, she said. Other factors, such as your age, family history, health habits and environment also contribute to the disease.

A symptom or cause of AMD?

Drusen, first described in 1854, is the plural for the German word “druse,” which means “geode” or “node” in English –“a cavity in rock filled with crystals,” writes Paulus T.V.M. de Jong, in a 2016 article in the journal Ophthalmology and Eye Diseases.

The medical scientist who coined the word in 1856 “probably chose this name because of the crystalline core in some large drusen,” he said.

But it wasn’t until the last century that researchers showed an important connection between drusen and late AMD, said Michael Klein, M. D., director emeritus of the Wold Family Macular Degeneration Center.

A large-scale study called the Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial – or CAPT – helped settle the question about drusen’s effect on AMD. Sponsored by the National Eye Institute, the clinical trial found that low-intensity laser treatments did not prevent complications of AMD or loss of vision. Researchers found no difference in vision or in progression to advanced AMD between treated and untreated eyes.

Casey Eye Institute was one of 22 clinical centers in the U.S. that participated in CAPT, which followed more than 1,000 study patients for at least five years. All the participants had large drusen in both eyes.

“Although the results were not as we hoped, the clinical trial was important in determining that laser therapy is not useful in preventing AMD,” said Klein, who was principal investigator of the study at Casey. However, its data continues to be analyzed, generating additional insights about AMD and its progression, he said.

Drusen’s link to AMD progression is also being examined in the Genetics of AMD Study, a decades-long effort led by Klein and his team at Casey.  The study has collected clinical and genetic information from more than 120 families, each noteworthy for having many members with advanced AMD.  Researchers will compare their genomes to relatives with large drusen using advanced whole genome sequencing technology. “It will give us valuable information about the genetic similarities between those with large and numerous drusen and their family members who have progressed to late-stage AMD,” he said.

Preventing vision loss

While the presence of drusen may herald the onset of AMD, there are some measures you can take to lessen your risk:

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Stop smoking, get plenty of exercise and fill your plate with fruits, vegetables and fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna and sardines). Evidence is emerging that a heart-healthy diet can help protect against AMD.
• Keep an eye on your vision. Be sure to get a dilated eye exam at least annually and monitor your vision at home with an Amsler Grid. This simple tool can pick up on new changes to your vision early on, when treatments are most effective.
• Consider taking AREDS2 dietary supplements, which has been shown to reduce the risk of advanced AMD. These vitamins and minerals cannot be obtained by just the foods you eat. Talk to your eye doctor to see if you are a candidate.
• Protect eyes from damaging light.  When outdoors, wear sunglasses that block harmful ultraviolet radiation and blue light waves. People with AMD may want to ask their eye doctor about a prescription for specialized filters to enhance contrast and comfort.

Related resources

Wold Family Macular Degeneration Center
Vision loss support group
Article: Group Support When Vision Fades

MACULA DEGENERATION – Eesti Nägemistervisekeskus

When we are young, we take sight, as well as life itself, for granted. Sooner or later, for example, with the appearance of the first wrinkles, we understand that youth is not eternal. Yet the permanent aging process of our eyes remains unnoticed for a long time, because the brain successfully compensates for the functions of the eyes associated with aging over time.

The most common eye diseases are age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts (grey film) and partially glaucoma. AMD is a very common disease and the most common cause of vision loss. AMD is on the rise in Europe, where one in two people over 65 have signs of eye degeneration (Eureye, 2006). The very first subtle symptoms of macular degeneration occur long before the 65th birthday.

Eye and macula

Kollatähn – macula, yellow spot
Nägemisnärv – optic nerve
Sarvkest – Cornea
Iiris – Iris
Pupill – Pupil
Lääts – Lens 900 09 Võrkkest- Retina

First light passes through retina , then The image of an object is focused by the lens on the yellow spot (macula), where the photoreceptors that receive the image are located. In turn, the photoreceptors transmit an electrical signal to the brain via the optic nerve. The brain transmits to us the picture that we “see”. The inner part of the eye where the receptors are located is called the retina. Figuratively speaking, our retina can be compared to a video camera.

Macula or yellow spot about the size of a match head. This is a place with a high concentration of photoreceptors, which allows us to perceive and see the world around us clearly, clearly and in all its colors. The macula allows us to read, recognize faces, and distinguish colors. Receptors located on the retina surrounding the macula give us a reliable sense of spatial orientation.

Symptoms

Vision in AMD

The symptoms of AMD depend on which part of the macula has been damaged. Damage to the fovea and areas in its immediate vicinity reduces the clarity of vision, and reading becomes difficult or impossible. Damage to areas outside the fovea leads to loss of visual areas and very often goes unnoticed. If the macula is damaged, then vision loss is observed in the center of the visual field. If a large blurry spot is observed in the direction of gaze, then this means that the vision is severely damaged, but the sense of orientation is not lost.

The dry form of AMD is often noticed only after a gradual loss of visual clarity over several years. In wet AMD, retinal edema, fluid retention, and bleeding can damage retinal function in a short period of time. The clarity of vision can deteriorate sharply, but it can gradually improve if excess fluid and blood are gradually removed from the body.

Distorted vision (metamorphosis) can be considered one of the signs of danger. Straight lines appear wavy, letters are distorted. This is due to swelling of the retina, which in turn can lead to an increase or decrease in vision. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

How does change happen?

Kõvakest – Dense sheath or sclera
Lääts – Lens
Maakula=kollatähn – Macula or macula
Silmanärvi lõpp – Optic nerve terminal

The lens of the eye collects light rays and focuses them on the macula. This is how clear images are formed in the brain. This process is similar to focusing the sun’s rays through a magnifying glass to start a fire. External light energy is used to stimulate receptors located in the macula. Receptors are made up primarily of lipid membranes that change their structure to generate signals to the brain so that we can see. For this process to work, it is necessary to constantly update the receptors with the cells that feed them.

Since cells need a large amount of energy and oxygen to perform their functions, which they receive from the blood, the macula has the highest concentration of oxygen, lipids and excessive light energy than in any other part of our body. As a result, a huge amount of free radicals and cell decay products are constantly generated. If the defense system of the macula is unable to balance the amount of substances, then toxins accumulate in nutrient cells, damaging photoreceptors and nutritional fibers, which eventually leads to their withering.

Macular nutritional cells do not regenerate, so their loss brings with it a loss of photoreceptors and visual function. Since this is a chronic and slow process, the macula tries to fight it in several ways:

• By removing toxic substances from the cells (formation of drusen): but this blocks the supply of blood and nutrients, leading to the final destruction of the cells.
• Generating blood vessel growth (neovascularization) to deliver immune cells to remove toxins and dead cells: but this blood vessel growth destroys other structures and vision loss occurs very quickly (advanced AMD).

Various forms of macular degeneration

Normal macula
Dry form of macular degeneration
Wet form of macular degeneration

Dry form. Accumulation of cell decay products (druse) in the macula is characteristic. In early AMD, these residues may be small, but the affected areas enlarge over time, and a severe form of AMD, called geographic atrophy, may develop. Approximately 80% of all cases are in the dry form.

Wet form. This form is characterized by the development of new blood vessels (neovascularization) in the macula. Ultimately, this is the best defensive reaction of the body, leads to the destruction of the structure of the macula. Wet AMD is much less common than dry AMD and is more dramatic in one in five AMD patients. Fluid from defective blood vessels enters the retina, resulting in retinal edema in the macula.

The wet form of AMD develops from the dry form. It is therapeutically possible to close diseased vessels (photodynamic therapy – a laser, the administration of a drug that suppresses the activity and growth of newly formed vessels). But none of these procedures will restore dead cells.

AMD and age risk factors

• Age: The most common risk factor. As we age, the risk of developing AMD increases significantly. At age 50, the risk is about 2%. By the age of 75, it grows to 30%.
• Heredity: those people whose relatives have been diagnosed with AMD are at greater risk.
• Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of developing AMD.
• Cardiovascular disease: for example, high blood pressure and heart disease are associated with impaired blood circulation in the eyes, which in turn affects their supply of oxygen and nutrients
• Gender: Women are more at risk of developing AMD.
• Sun: significant prolonged and intense exposure to the sun without the use of sunglasses with a UV filter.
• Reduced macular pigment: a thin layer of protective pigment does not protect the macula.

• • Overweight : due to changes in the breakdown of fats in the body, fat-dissolving substances such as carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin do not reach the eyes in the required amount.
  • Nutrition: Deficiency in antioxidants (eg Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium) promotes free radical activity, damaging the macula and/or impairing health.

Treatment

Since the causes of AMD cannot be cured, it is extremely important to try to avoid the onset of the disease and its early diagnosis. Laser therapy and other procedures can only slow and delay vision loss.

Disease prevention. You should try to avoid risks for as long as possible: treat other diseases, stop smoking, wear sunglasses, exercise in the fresh air and eat a healthy diet, including fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet. Antioxidants and various nutritional supplements such as Vitamins C and E, selenium, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin have a positive effect.

Early diagnosis. As the body ages, regular consultations with an optometrist or ophthalmologist become more and more important. A good reason to visit a doctor is the need to change glasses. Even the smallest change in visual clarity can be a sign of early AMD. There are a number of tests that can detect changes in vision (for example, the Amsler test).

Auxiliaries. Magnifying aids and exercises can be helpful for impaired vision.

Laser therapy and other procedures. Lasers are used to cauterize diseased vessels, if necessary, after the administration of a drug that is activated under the influence of laser beams (photodynamic therapy). Still, the use of a laser is risky, so its use depends on the results of the tests. Operations always carry a certain risk, so the possibility of using this option is considered as a last resort and in the later stages of the disease.

Treatments currently under investigation include the use of a laser to heat diseased blood vessels (transpupillary thermotherapy), inhibition of blood vessel development with drugs, and gene therapy.

Test your vision yourself

The Amsler test is a simple home test to check the condition of the macula.
Test instructions
1. Place the Amsler test 30 cm from the eyes
2. If you use glasses for reading, put them on
3. Cover one eye with the palm of your hand
4. Look at the point located in the center of the grid
5. Now, focusing and not taking your eyes off this point, make sure that all the lines remain straight and the squares do not differ in size
6. If you find that some of the squares are distorted, blurry, or varying in size, contact your eye doctor immediately.
7. Repeat the test for the other eye.

Possible test results:

Normal result
If AMD is present, a dark spot can be seen
Lines may be distorted if AMD is present

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

90 023 AGE-RELATED MACULA DEGENERATION is an age-related lesion the central part of the retina is a yellow spot, often accompanied by a significant and irreversible loss of central vision. It most often occurs in people over 60 years of age, although it rarely develops in younger people. Both eyes are always affected, only the process can proceed differently.

There are two forms of senile macular degeneration: dry and exudative.

Dry (non-exudative, atrophic) degeneration is more common and has a better prognosis. Small, round, light yellow foci appear in the macula – drusen, later the foci increase, merge, and a zone of retinal atrophy develops, which expands, and therefore central vision is disturbed.
Exudative (wet, neovascular) form of degeneration is much more severe and up to 90% of cases end in blindness. With the progression of the process, newly formed vessels appear that can bleed, bruises appear, fibrous connective tissue can form – a scar that causes irreversible loss of vision.
At the beginning of the disease, a person sees wrong pictures, distorted lines, objects may appear larger or smaller, later a dark spot may appear in the center of the field of vision, vision is constantly deteriorating. The course of the disease depends on the form and localization. Vision may deteriorate to 0.1 or more.
So far there is no specific treatment. Certain medications can help to some extent. Medications are prescribed to improve blood circulation and dilate the vessels of the retina. In addition, it is very important to take an antioxidant (vitamins A, E, C). It has been established that antioxidants slow down the aging process of the whole organism, including the eyes. Carotenoids (lutein and zeacanthin), which are found in vegetables with dark leaves, positively affect the retina. Clinical studies in recent years show that in order to slow down age-related macular degeneration, it is very important that the body receives enough zinc. Therefore, it is recommended to take nutritional supplements that include all these essential substances. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to wear glasses with filters that protect from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
For the treatment of exudative forms, a new medical method of treatment has now begun to be used in the world, when drugs are injected into the vitreous cavity during injection. It is assumed that this is the most promising method of treatment, and more and more effective medicines are being created.

Responses from computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other
instrumental studies are most often ready within 2-3 hours after the study.
For a study performed on Saturday, please contact the person who conducted the study
(usually a response is available within 3 business days).
Responses to ultrasound examinations and some other examinations performed in the doctor’s office – immediately after the examination
.

Notes

For prices for services provided outside the opening hours of the Center and doctors, without a queue, at night, on weekends, without referrals, with a call to doctors who are not constantly working at the Center, ask separately before providing services.

The Center may change prices for services without separate notice, introduce new services, new content services, and not provide certain services.

Notes

For prices for services provided outside the opening hours of the Center and doctors, without a queue, at night, on weekends, without referrals, with a call to doctors who are not constantly working at the Center, ask separately before providing services.

The Center may, without separate notice, change prices for services, introduce new services, new content services, and not provide individual services.

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