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Age Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Eyes like all other organs in the body undergo wear and tear. As we age, this wear and tear starts to affect the vision. Age-related macular degeneration as the name suggests is a macular disease which mostly develops after a person reaches middle age. Malfunctioning of the light sensing cells in the macula is the cause of AMD.
Retina, situated at the back of eye, is the light-sensitive tissue which transmits the images we see to the brain as electrical impulses. Macula is a part of the retina and is responsible for the sharp central vision needed for reading, driving, distinguishing colors and for perceiving fine details.
Age-related macular degeneration robs the center part of anything a person views. For example, if the person affected with AMD looks at a photograph of a person, he will be able to only see the outermost regions of the photograph and the center portions will be blurred or partially black and therefore the person will not be able to identify the photograph. AMD rarely leads to total blindness.
It is estimated that about 15 million people in the United States are suffering from Age-related macular degeneration and around two million new cases are diagnosed annually. AMD is the main cause of vision loss in adults over 60. Around 25% of the population in the age group of 65 to 75 is suffering from AMD. The numbers go even high for adults over 75.
Taking an active role in eye protection is very much necessary. While having an appointment with an ophthalmologist, clear all your doubts. The amount of literature available on eye diseases is huge and most of them can be downloaded from the Internet. Talk to your friends and relatives about your condition, they might offer helpful tips.
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