Macular degeneration of the retina: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease of the retina that affects the macula (the central area of ​​the retina that provides the highest visual acuity and color perception). As a result, patients with age-related macular degeneration experience a steady deterioration in vision and color perception, it becomes difficult for them to distinguish small details of the image, and the outlines of objects may be distorted; especially in low light conditions.

What is retinal macular degeneration

Macular degeneration of the eye is a lesion of the central part of the retina. The main reason for the development of pathology is insufficient blood flow. A yellow pigment accumulates near the macula. Because of this, the light-sensitive cones are damaged. First, vision deteriorates in one eye, and later in the second.

Dystrophic changes rarely appear at 17–18 years of age. The disease most often occurs in people over 50 due to age-related changes. The disease usually affects both eyes.

With macular degeneration, the first symptoms do not appear immediately. In such cases, people turn to an ophthalmologist when they have the last stage of the disease. Therefore, it is impossible to completely restore vision.

In the presence of macular degeneration, disability is given, but the group depends on the severity and form of the disease. If visual acuity decreases to 0.03, the person is assigned disability group 1. With a slight decrease to 0.1, group 3 is given. In other cases, group 2 is assigned.

Macular degeneration does not lead to complete loss of vision. The disease affects a person’s ability to work. It makes it difficult to drive a car, watch TV, recognize others, or count money.

Why is wet AMD dangerous?

Danger of AMD:

1. The human eye is a paired organ and the healthy eye successfully takes on the visual load of the diseased eye, so dangerous manifestations of macular degeneration go unnoticed for a long time.
2. There is no pain as a sign that something is wrong with macular degeneration.
3. The disease does not lead to complete blindness. However, damage to both eyes can lead to loss of ability to work and severe problems in everyday life (driving a car, recognizing faces, counting money, crossing the road, loss of independence, mental disorders).
4. With wet AMD, irreversible changes in the retina may occur over the next few weeks or months.
5. The faster your vision deteriorates, the sooner you need to contact an eye doctor at a specialized clinic for examination and treatment.

Classification

In ophthalmology, pathological changes in the macular zone of the retina come in dry and wet forms. In the first case, the disease is treated successfully. Macular degeneration in the dry form is characterized by slow development. Wet macular degeneration of the retina is dangerous for humans as it progresses quickly. Therefore, vision rapidly deteriorates.

Wet macular degeneration with age-related changes is characterized by the proliferation of blood vessels that are directed towards the macula. Therefore, fluid from the new capillaries flows out and permeates the retinal tissue. As a result, the area swells.

The wet form of macular degeneration is the result of advanced dry macular degeneration. Unlike the dry form, the wet form leads to complete loss of vision. Dry dystrophic changes in the macula are distinguished by stages of development:

1. Initial. There are no symptoms. The disease is diagnosed randomly during a medical examination. An ophthalmological examination of the fundus of a person reveals yellow spots. These growths are called drusen. At the beginning of the development of macular degeneration, they are small, almost invisible.
2. Intermediate. The examination reveals medium and large drusen. A person with this stage is no longer able to distinguish objects.
3. Expressed or last. When light-sensitive cells are destroyed, vision decreases sharply. Dystrophic changes lead to disruption of central vision. A person sees one continuous spot of black color.

Maculative degeneration – modern therapy in Frankfurt

The ARTEMIS eye clinic in Frankfurt has set up its own retinal treatment center for patients. In 2011, on an additional area of ​​160 m2, special rooms were equipped for preoperative consultations specifically on retinal treatment problems. It serves patients who develop macular degeneration. The clinic is equipped with modern optical equipment from the best manufacturers in the world.

The clinic's eye surgeons, who work in Frankfurt, have the necessary experience, which they have gained from thousands of retinal cases. In total, more than 10,000 interventions of this kind are carried out annually in ARTEMIS clinics. Therefore, patients of the clinic can rely on the results of the best examinations, as well as the highest degree of safety with high results in the treatment of retinal diseases such as macular degeneration. A special individual treatment schedule is developed for each of them. A wide range of surgical ophthalmology methods are collected under one roof.

Doctors around the world are expressing their concern about the progression of macular degeneration in all segments of the population. The incidence of the disease in young people is especially depressing. “Early detection and prevention of diseases in AMD is crucial in order to avoid severe and irreversible damage,” says VSDAR President Dr. Daisy Schmickler from the eye department in Ahaus. Therefore, regular ophthalmological examinations play an important role. If symptoms of visual discomfort appear, you should not delay your consultation; you should visit a doctor as soon as possible, ophthalmologists remind.

Symptoms

Macular degeneration of the retina varies according to the stages and forms of the disease. Let's look at the general symptoms:

• distortion of vision;
• hallucinations in the form of distorted straight lines;
• difficulty reading books;
• poor visibility in the dark;
• spots, dots before the eyes.

The listed symptoms appear in one or two eyes. In the second case, the person gradually gets used to the new state, and therefore triggers the disease.

How does a person with macular degeneration of the retina see:

You can watch the following video for more information about the symptoms of this disease:

Diagnostics

First, the ophthalmologist conducts an examination of the fundus. Special drops are dropped into both eyes of a person to dilate the pupils. Afterwards, the ophthalmologist examines the eye for 15 minutes.

Sometimes a diagnostic method is used at home - the Amsler test. In this case, a special mesh and fluorescein angiography are used. In the presence of dystrophic changes in the central region of the retina, a person does not see a spot in the center of the field.

Treatment

Treatment of dry macular degeneration of the retina is carried out using medications. During therapy, a person is prescribed special drops and ointments. In the treatment of wet macular degeneration of the retina, surgical and laser operations are used.

Conservative

Treatment of the initial stage of macular degeneration of the retina involves the use of drops. To cure the disease, visual pigments, antioxidants and drops containing zinc and copper are instilled into the eye.

A person may be prescribed vitamin-mineral complexes, the task of which is to slow down the development of pathological changes in vision. Complete vitamin-mineral complexes against retinal macular degeneration contain the following components:

• zinc;
• vitamins of groups A, C, E;
• copper;
• lycopene;
• lutein;
• omega-3 fatty acids;
• beta carotene.

After diagnosis, the doctor prescribes medications containing vitamins and minerals:

• “Complivit Ofthalmo”, prescribed for periodic visual fatigue;
• “Lutein Complex”, used as a food supplement for vitamin deficiency;
• “Metmorphine” is used as a prophylactic against ophthalmic complications for people with diabetes;
• “Vitrum Vision Forte” is prescribed for changes in the macular area in the central or peripheral part.

In addition to taking these medications, a person should eat a balanced diet. If there are dystrophic changes in the central part of the retina, it is forbidden to eat fatty foods:

• rich soups;
• pork;
• smoked meats;
• fried, salty foods.

When sick, it is recommended to eat green vegetables, fruits and berries. Lenten dishes predominate in the diet.

Surgery and laser

Laser coagulation of the retina is used for the wet form of macular degeneration. During the operation, fragile, leaking vessels that have formed over the course of the disease are removed. The laser is aimed at the vessels and destroys them, preventing vision loss.

But sometimes surgery and laser surgery damage healthy blood vessels. Because of this, vision deteriorates. The surgical treatment method is used only when the newly formed vessels are located away from the central fossa of the macula.

Watch a video about laser coagulation of the retina below:

Modern methods

Today, age-related macular degeneration of the retina is treated with progressive methods. This therapy is effective for severe dry or wet forms. The essence of modern treatment is to prevent the proliferation of small vessels and destruction of the macula. For this purpose, special glasses Argus 2 were invented in the UK.

Folk

It is impossible to completely restore vision in the presence of dystrophic changes in the retina. Treatment of macular degeneration of the retina involves the use of folk remedies. Let's look at recipes for non-standard medicine:

1. The washed, sorted wheat is laid out in a thin layer and filled with water. After germination, the wheat is washed. The resulting consistency is passed through a meat grinder. The resulting medicine is stored in a cool place. People with macular degeneration should eat up to 5 tsp of this wheat every morning. Berries and honey are added for taste.
2. To restore vision you will need mumiyo infusion and aloe juice. 5 g of mumiyo is mixed with 100 ml of fresh juice. The resulting solution is stored on the top shelves of the refrigerator. It is necessary to instill the prepared drops 2 times a day. The course of treatment is 15 days. Then there is a break for a week. If necessary, therapy is resumed.
3. Following a diet prevents further development of the disease. It is important to eat foods that are filled with vitamins and beneficial microelements.

Prevention

Age-related dystrophic changes in the retina now appear at an early age. Therefore, it is necessary to observe measures to prevent macular degeneration:

1. Rejection of bad habits. It has been proven that alcohol and cigarettes age the body.
2. Eye protection in sunny weather. Ultraviolet exposure negatively affects the structure of the retina. Therefore you need to wear sunglasses.
3. Annual examination by an ophthalmologist. Timely consultation with a doctor is a guarantee of health.
4. Partial exclusion from the diet of foods high in cholesterol.
5. Arterial hypertension cannot be ignored. The disease must be treated.
6. Take vitamin complexes if there is a hereditary predisposition to the disease. Many beneficial elements are found in vegetables, berries, fruits and seaweed.

At the first suspicion of retinal macular degeneration, you should consult a doctor. If treated in a timely manner, the disease will not lead to irreversible consequences.

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Causes

The causes of age-related macular degeneration are still unknown. However, there are factors that significantly increase the risk of this pathology. These include:

• age over 50 years
• smoking
• presence of this disease in the family
• genetic predisposition
• cardiovascular pathology (including arterial hypertension)
• exposure to aggressive solar radiation
• race
• female
• malnutrition (deficiency of monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants)