What is macular degeneration?

Your eye is like a camera. The retina functions like the film inside a camera. It is light-sensitive tissue that lines the inside of the eye and captures pictures of the outside world. The macula is a special part of the retina that lets you see fine details in the center of your vision.

In macular degeneration, breakdown products build up in the macula. These deposits are called “drusen,” and they prevent the retina from getting the nutrients and oxygen it needs to survive.

It is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 and older, and we do not know why some people get macular degeneration. It is not painful, and it can cause progressively worse blurry vision. You can get macular degeneration in one eye, or both. It does not spread from one eye to the other.

There are two types:

• Dry Macular Degeneration: this type typically develops very slowly, with “drusen” building up over time. This may result in blurry central vision that gets worse with more Drusen. There is no treatment for Dry Macular Degernation.
• Wet Macular Degeneration: this type is dangerous and can cause rapid vision loss. New abnormal blood vessels grow into to the retina and can leak or bleed – causing rapid loss of vision if left untreated.

Who gets macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Americans 60 and older.

You are more likely to get macular degeneration if you have or are:

• Other family members with macular degeneration
• Smoking history
• Obesity
• Of an older age
• Caucasian
• Female

What are the symptoms?

• Blurry vision
• Blurred spot in the center of your vision
• Straight lines appear wavy
• Trouble reading and recognizing faces

How do I know if I have macular degeneration?

You might have some of the symptoms in the list above, or you might have no symptoms at all if your macular degeneration is in the early stages.

When you go to the eye doctor, he can see your retina through an instrument called the ophthalmoscope, or by looking through the microscope. If you have macular degeneration, he will see yellow deposits called “drusen” in the back of your eye. Normal Eye Eye with Early Macular Degeneration

How fast does macular degeneration develop?

In some people, macular degeneration develops very slowly. You might notice some blurry vision and trouble with seeing fine details that slowly gets worse over years.

In other people, macular degeneration progresses much faster. If you have the wet type of macular degeneration, you are in danger of losing your vision in one or both eyes.

Is there anything I can do to prevent macular degeneration?

Unfortunately, we do not know why some people get macular degeneration, and there is no way to prevent it. However, you can reduce your risk by doing the following:

• Stop smoking, if you are smoking now
• Take a multivitamin with antioxidants
• See your eye doctor regularly

What are the treatment options?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for macular degeneration.

There is no treatment for dry macular degeneration. However, there are a few things that may slow the progression:

• Take a multivitamin with antioxidants
• See your eye doctor regularly
• Monitor your vision by using an Amsler grid. This is a sheet of paper with a grid of straight lines. If the lines look distorted or wavy, it might mean that there is some progression of the macular degeneration.

There are a few treatment options for wet macular degeneration. These treatments cannot restore vision, but they can prevent further damage.

• Injections: very small amounts of medications can be injected directly into the eye to prevent the growth of the abnormal new blood vessels. You might need several injections, and sometimes every month.
• Laser: lasers can be used to destroy the abnormal, leaky new blood vessels. This can be done in your eye doctor’s clinic, and you will go home the same day. If the vessels grow back, you may need more laser treatments or injections.
• Photodynamic therapy: a medication is injected into a blood vessel in your arm and it travels throughout your body, including the abnormal vessels in your eyes. The doctor will shine a light into your eye, which activates the medication and destroys the abnormal blood vessels in your eye. This does not damage the surrounding tissues. Since the medications are activated by light, you must avoid the sun for 5 days following treatment.

References:

• Macular Degeneration – MedlinePlus
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration – NIH Senior Health

Prepared in partnership with Lily Huang, MD, Class of 2013, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

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