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. The disease affects over 5.3 million Americans aged 18 and older. Cataracts are common in people over the age of 60. More than 20 million Americans have been affected by cataract. Over 2.2 million Americans have been diagnosed with Glaucoma. This is a chronic disease that requires life-long treatment in order to control it. As people advance in age, macular degeneration sets in. More than 1.6 million Americans over the age of 60 are in the advanced stages of macular degeneration.
In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels of the retina break down or become blocked, thereby impairing vision. Diabetes exacerbates the problem and the risk increases with age. Diabetics are encouraged to undergo regular dilated eye examinations. Laser surgery and a procedure called vitrectomy are effective treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
Macular degeneration affects the retina and reduces central vision. It is the most common cause for blindness in Americans over the age of 60. Laser therapy destroys leaking blood vessels and is a widely used form of treatment. A combination of zinc, along with vitamins C, E and beta-carotene can reduce the risk of macular degeneration by 25 percent.
Smoking, diabetes, excessive exposure to sunlight and increasing age are factors that contribute to cataracts. Cataract is a condition where the eyes lens gets clouded. Cataracts can be surgically removed and this process can help avoid vision loss.
Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve, the carrier of visual information from the eye to the brain. It is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. A person does not experience loss of vision until a significant amount of nerve damage is occurred. Glaucoma can be controlled by timely diagnosis and treatment. Vision lost due to glaucoma cannot be restored.
Blindness and visual impairment is a significant burden on those affected, as well as the national economy. A healthy diet and lifestyle combined with care of the eye would ensure protection of vision which is critical to leading a normal life.
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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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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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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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Vision Appraisal
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Vision appraisal comprises of tests and examinations detecting defects in the functionalities of the visual system and evaluating the eyes’ ability to perceive things and their details efficiently. Vision appraisals may also include testing the ability of the eyes in perceiving and distinguishing colors. They...
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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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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 Correction
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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From ordinary spectacles to contact lenses and laser surgery, vision correction has come a long way since the first pair of spectacles was made in the 13th century. These new methods of correction can potentially restore vision back to normal. They attempt to reduce any...