Issue 35.09
Macular degeneration is a medical condition usually of older adults that results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms. It is a major cause of blindness in the elderly. Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision can remain to allow other activities of daily life.
The inner layer of the eye is the retina, which contains nerves that communicate sight, and behind the retina is the choroid, which contains the blood supply to the retina. In the dry form, cellular debris called drusen accumulates between the retina and the choroid, and the retina can become detached. In the wet form, which is more severe, blood vessels grow up from the choroid behind the retina, and the retina can also become detached. It can be treated with laser, and with medication that stops and sometimes reverses the growth of blood vessels.
Vitamins are very important to our eyes but how do we know what to take? As the average lifespan continues to increase, we can expect to see more cases of eye disease related to the older population, namely age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Both conditions already are significant causes of visual loss in the United States, and they have become major public health issues in the rest of the world. More than 13 million Americans older than age 40 show signs of Age related Macular Degeneration,
(ARMD). The National Eye Institute completed the first stage of a study called Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). The first stage of AREDS was designed to:
§ learn more about the natural history and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract
§ evaluate the effect of high doses of antioxidants and zinc on the progression of AMD and cataract
Results from the AREDS 1 study showed that high levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated vision loss. These same nutrients had no significant effect on the development or progression of cataract.
For more information please call Richens Eye Center at 435-652-4040.