Age-related Macular Degeneration or AMD is a common eye disease that causes progressive damage to the central part of the retina, also known as the Macula. AMD is the leading cause of visual impairment in the United States, and blindness in senior citizens of America, aged 65 and older.
As people age, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which supplies nutrients from the choroid (layer of blood vessels that nourishes the cones and rods of the retina) to the retina and helps remove waste products, may deteriorate. This results in the formation of waste deposits and the light-sensitive cells of the macula may be damaged due to lack of nutrients. The normal signals sent through the optic nerve to the brain by these cells become disrupted and the vision becomes blurred.
According to the estimate of Archives of Ophthalmology in 2004, approximately 1.75 million U.S. residents have indicative symptoms associated with AMD or age-related macular degeneration. The number is expected to grow to almost 3 million by 2020 according to this estimate.
Age-related Macular Degeneration rarely results in complete blindness but leads to distorted vision and reduces contrast sensitivity and color perception. Peripheral vision may not be affected and victims may be able to see from the corners of their eyes. However, in the worst cases, AMD or Age-related Macular Degeneration may result in a complete loss of vision or lead to blindness.
Although the chances for developing AMD or age-related Macular Degeneration increase radically as people age, researchers suspect an association between development of AMD and occurrence of a variant of a gene known as complement factor H (CFH). The cause of this eye disease may also be related to nutrition, smoking, and sunlight or as a side effect of a particular drug.
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Wet Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Wet Macular Degeneration, also known as the exudative type, is the more severe of the two types of AMD or Age-related Macular Degeneration, which cause 90% of blindness from the disease but only accounts for 15% of AMD cases. Wet macular degeneration develops when new...
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Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The progressive deterioration of the Macula or the central portion of the retina causes macular degeneration. The macula is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye (ability to see objects directly in front) and for processing sharp, clear images. Macular degeneration or damage to...
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Dry Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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There are two types of Macular Degeneration or AMD. The first and more common type is the Dry Macular Degeneration. 85% to 90% of the cases of AMD or Age-related macular degeneration are of the dry or atrophic type. It is also a fact that...
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Macular Degeneration Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Macular degeneration usually generates a gradual and painless loss of vision. The signs and symptoms of AMD may depend upon what type of the disease a person may have – Dry AMD or Wet AMD. Retinal examinations such as Ophthalmoscopy, Vision testing, Fundus photography, Amsler...
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Macular Degeneration Research
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Since Macular Degeneration or AMD is an incurable disease, there have been numerous experiments and tests conducted by researchers to halt or slow down the rate of its progression and vision loss caused by the disease. While most of the results have been disappointing, some...
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Macular Degeneration Medications
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Though there is no permanent cure for Macular Degeneration, some medications may actually assist in halting or slowing down the progress of the disease and loss of vision. While some of these medications are totally experimental, others have been found to be effective and have...
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Vision Care
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Over one million Americans over the age of 40 face the threat of blindness or are currently blind. Another 2.4 million are visually impaired. These numbers are expected to double in the next 30 years. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness....
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Macular Degeneration Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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There is no treatment that can cure or reverse the course of Dry Macular Degeneration. Even the available treatments for the Wet type at present are only meant to slow down the progress of the disease and avoid further loss of vision. The success of...
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Vision
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The eye is the first component of the sensory system of vision. Despite its small size, the eye is a very complex organ. The retina performs the first stage in visual perception. The optic nerve and the visual cortex of the brain are the next...
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Peripheral Vision
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Peripheral vision is obtained through the nerve cells located outside the center or the macula of the retina. These nerve cells enable the eyes to perceive objects and other movements outside the central visual field and the direct line of vision. While looking steadily towards...