Macular degeneration involves the slow destruction of the retina. The macular is the part of the retina which is responsible for a person being able to see details. People suffering from macular degeneration are often unable to drive a vehicle and may also experience trouble reading, especially fine print. There are several treatment options available for macular degeneration, depending on the type of degeneration.
There is very little known about macular degeneration treatment as compared to glaucoma treatment or astigmatism. Treatment options, when possible, for macular degeneration slow down the disease rather than eliminate it altogether.
Dry macular degeneration
There are two main types of the disease. Dry macular degeneration is one form of the disease. It results when cells in macular tissue begin to break down. It causes some vision loss, generally associated with blurring or distortion that worsens over time.
Dry macular degeneration is generally treated through changes in lifestyle. This could mean taking to wearing sunglasses. Giving up smoking would also be recommended. This obviously has additional benefits beyond eye health, ranging from reducing the risk of lung disease, to keeping more money in your pocket. There is also the choice of diet for two reasons. Foods that, combined with lack of exercise, put the patient at risk of high blood pressure are to be avoided. It is also believed that naturally pigmented foods with bright colours will help, which means eating produce such as spinach, peppers and broccoli.
However, if an individual is diagnosed with an advanced form of AMD, then an operation may be required.
Wet macular degeneration
Wet macular degeneration is the less common yet more advanced level of macular degeneration. It is the type of the disease that is more dangerous to sight. New blood cell start growing underneath the retina. They leak blood and fluid, causing the retina to move away from the wall of the eye, resulting in vision loss. Sight loss caused by this process is irreversible.
Treatment
There are several treatment options available for wet macular degeneration. It usually depends on how advanced the case of the disease is.
One option is laser surgery. It destroys the red blood vessels under the retina in order to stop more vision loss. This procedure may need to be repeated if the vessels return.
Another option is through use of a drug which inhibits the blood vessels growth. This drug tends to result in a better outcome than the usual surgical procedures and is also suitable for more patients.
There are quite a few clinical trials for new treatments on both wet and dry macular degeneration taking place. However, there are still in preliminary stage. Thus, the best option for most people is to take precautions to protect themselves from the disease as the cure is not yet available. If your age makes you at risk for macular degeneration, it is essential to check the other risk criteria. These include obesity and smoking. Moreover, some researchers have noticed some genetic tendency towards macular degeneration.
If you feel that you are experiencing vision loss, whether the symptoms are for macular degeneration or any other eye disease, it is important to visit a doctor immediately. Macular degeneration is generally a pain free disease, and thus symptoms are not always overt. However, people suffering from the disease could put themselves and others at risk by taking part in activities such as driving, especially at night. Thus, it is better to get eyesight tested more every six months as macular degeneration, astigmatism and glaucoma treatment are all best applied sooner rather than later, before the disease gets out of control and more severe treatment methods are necessary.