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 most cases of age-related macular degeneration always starts out as the dry form.
Dry macular degeneration occurs when the RPE or retinal pigment epithelium cells begin to atrophy (deteriorate) and lose their pigment. This deterioration is associated with the formation of small yellow deposits under the macula, known as Drusen. This leads to the contraction and drying out of the macula impairing its main function. Only one eye may be initially affected but in most cases, both eyes eventually become involved.
When people develop dry macular degeneration, the waste disposal system of the RPE or retinal pigment epithelium cells starts to deteriorate and waste starts to accumulate in the RPE. Aging also dramatically contributes to this accumulation. Soon, the normal function of the RPE is disrupted and the light-sensitive cells of the macula begin to degenerate.
Victims with the dry form of Macular Degeneration or AMD may have good central vision, probably 20/40 or better. However, they may experience considerable functional limitations such as difficulty reading, limited vision at night and blurred vision. Others may notice little or no change at all in their vision. However, thinning of the RPE may progress to a point where it totally disappears affecting the overlying cones and rods which may result in complete loss of the central vision.
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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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Age Related Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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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,...
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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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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 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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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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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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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...
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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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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...