Dry Macular Degeneration

Info_lover | May 3, 2010 |

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Dry macular degeneration (neo-vascular) or Dry AMD is an early stage of the disease known as macular degeneration which is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among Americans who are aged 50 and older. Statistical figures show that up to 90 percent of age-related macular degeneration patients are diagnosed with dry macular degeneration. Dry AMD is an early stage of the eye disease and usually result from the wear and tear of macular eye tissues brought about by aging.

Dry AMD is first diagnosed when yellowish spots known as drusen (known as tiny yellow deposits in the retina of the eye) begin to accumulate around the macula region of the eye. Medical researchers believe that these spots are deposits made up of deteriorating eye tissue. Dry macular degeneration may cause gradual central vision loss, however the side effects are typically not as severe as wet AMD signs or symptoms. However, dry AMD can slowly progress to late-stage geographic atrophy, a condition known as gradual degradation in functioning of retinal cells. This can result in severe vision loss for the eye patient.

Dry age related macular degeneration typically occurs in three stages. They are as follows:

1. Early stage. Characterized and identified by several small-sized drusen or a few medium-sized drusen. At this stage, there is little or no noticeable vision loss.

2. Intermediate stage. At this stage, AMD patients have either many medium-sized drusen or a few large drusen. Some people will gradually start to notice a blurred spot in the center of their vision and will require more light to perform reading and other tasks which require seeing in greater details.

3. Advanced dry stage. This stage is also known as Geographic Atrophy (GA). It is identified by many large drusen, plus a breakdown of light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in the central retinal area. Vision distortion becomes severe and detail vision becomes impossible, causing the eye patient to rely purely on the peripheral field for sight. Patients, at this stage, very often have difficulty reading or recognizing faces unless the objects or people are very close to you.

If you have vision loss from dry AMD in only one eye, you may not notice any changes in your overall vision. With the other eye seeing clearly and functioning as per normal, you still can perform normal tasks with minimal hassle. You may only start to notice changes in your vision if both eyes are affected. If you start to notice blurriness in your vision, do consult an eye care professional for a comprehensive checkup.

Dry macular degeneration treatment

Cures for dry macular degeneration typically involve genetic replacement therapy and stem cell transplantation. A good amount of medical research is being currently done in these two areas, and a cure can be reasonably expected to be found within a decade. A major National Eye Institute study (AREDS) has produced strong evidence that certain nutritional supplements found in eye vitamins can aid treatment for dry macular degeneration and reduce risk of early stage AMD progression by up to 20 percent.

For a start, if you are suffering from macular degeneration dry type, you can follow these few simple steps to stall the deterioration of the disease:

Make eating plenty of leafy green vegetables part of your regular diet
Remember to take daily doses of zinc and antioxidants
Avoid exposing your eyes to excessively bright sunlight by wearing sunglasses that are protective against ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Refrain from smoking.
Exercise and maintain a healthy body weight
Go for regular eye checkups