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 blood vessels, known as choroidal neovascularizations (CNVs) grow from the choroid underneath the macular portion of the retina. These abnormal vessels may leak fluid or blood causing the central vision to blur, as the macula begins to bulge or lift up. Under these circumstances, vision loss may be rapid and severe. This exudative form of macular degeneration may also show signs of the dry form.
Due to fluid accumulation, patients of the Wet form of AMD may see dark spots in the center of their vision. Moreover, straight lines may become wavy or crooked since the Macula is no longer smooth. Peripheral vision is not affected most of the time. The Wet form of Macular Degeneration may also result in legal blindness, defined as 20/200 vision or worse.
A failure in the waste removal system of the RPE or retinal pigment epithelium cells (similar to that of Dry AMD) is thought to be the reason behind the abnormal growth of blood vessels. Lack of nutrients may also contribute to this abnormality but that is still under scientific scrutiny since no conclusive evidence has been revealed. The most plausible theory at this time is that when the membrane underlying the retina thickens and breaks, the oxygen supply to the macula is disrupted and the body responds by growing new, abnormal blood vessels.
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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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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 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 Medications
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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 Symptoms
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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
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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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Vision Care
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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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Peripheral Vision
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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
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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...