What is AMD?
It is a common eye condition and a major cause of visual impairment affecting people aged 50 years and above. It affects macula which is a small point located near the retina and the part of the eye which is required for clear central vision, enabling us to see objects straight ahead.
With the progression of this disease, a blurry spot near the central vision appears which may increase in size or become a dark spot. As central vision gets affected it makes difficult to carry out everyday activities like reading, face recognition, writing, fixing things around the house, driving etc.
Who is at Risk?
Some of the risk factors for AMD are:
Age:
The most common risk factor for AMD is age. People above 60 are affected commonly but it may be experienced earlier.
Smoking:
If you smoke you are two times more vulnerable to AMD compared to a non-smoker.
Family History:
You are at a higher risk of getting affected by AMD if it runs in your family.
Genetics:
More than 20 such genes are identified which are responsible for AMD.
Lifestyle Effects on AMD :
You can opt for these healthy choices to reduce your risk for AMD or to slow the progression of this disease.
- Say no to smoking
- Eat healthy diet including fish and vegetables
- Maintain an active lifestyle
- Keep your cholesterol level in a healthy range
- Maintain your blood pressure within healthy range
Stages of AMD:
These include:
- Early AMD
- Intermediate and late AMD
- Advanced neovascular AMD
Detection of AMD:
EArly and intermediate stages of this disease have no specific symptoms. This can only be detected by a comprehensive eye exam. If you want to have a satisfactory eye health exam visit Laser Vision Centre, Lahore and get your eye health status checked.
Eye exam for AMD includes
- Visual acuity test
- Dilated eye exam
- Amsler grid
- Fluorescein angiogram
- Optical coherence tomography
Treatment of AMD:
Currently, there is no cure but treatment for AMD. Undergoing an annual eye exam can evaluate if your condition is worsening. Laser vision Centre, Karachi is one of the most reliable setups to get treatment for age-related macular degeneration.es.
Treatment options include:
- Primary treatment for AMD is anti-VEGF injections
- Anti-angiogenic drugs
- Laser therapy
- Photodynamic laser therapy
- Vitamins
- Low visions aids
- Sub-macular surgery
- Retinal Translocation
Nobody goes totally blind because of age-related macular degeneration but it does affect your central vision severely. If you are at risk or diagnosed with early AMD you can slow progression of this disease by adopting above-mentioned lifestyle changes.