Macular degeneration
The macula is a layer of tissue that lines the inner wall of the eye. It contains cells called photoreceptions which detect the light that is being focused by the eye. The macula acts in the same way as a film in a camera. When the cells of the macula detect light, they send a visual message that travels from the macula to the brain. If a person has a damaged macula, the eye cannot detect the light passing through it and the vision will be very blurred.
Macular degeneration affects our central vision.
There are 2 types of macular degeneration
Macular degeneration affects our central vision.
There are 2 types of macular degeneration
(1) Dry macular degeneration.
In dry ARMD, the cells of the macula slowly (over years) degenerate and die. The central vision slowly deteriorates. In advanced dry ARMD the central vision can be severely affected.
(2) Wet macular degeneration
In wet ARMD an abnormal blood vessel develops the macula. This blood vessel can leak fluid and bleed. Fluid and blood are toxic to the cells of the macula and can severely damage central vision if treatment with injections is not started quickly.
What treatments are available for macular degeneration?
For dry ARMD, macular vitamins can reduce the risk of you developing advanced vision threatening disease. Common vitamin formulations include MacuTec, MDEyes and Macuvision Plus. These vitamins do not improve vision but slow down the speed at which the macular degeneration worsens.
For wet ARMD, intravitreal injections of drugs such as Avastin, Lucentis, Eylea and Vabysmo are very effective at not only preventing worsening of vision but also in improving vision.
