Age Related Macular Degeneration Treatment In Ghatkopar, Mumbai

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Age Related Macular Degeneration Treatment In
Ghatkopar, Mumbai
Age Related Macular Degeneration Human eye has
various important parts like Cornea, Pupil, Iris,
Lens and Retina. The macula is located in the
center of the retina, the light- sensitive tissue
at the back of the eye. The retina instantly
converts light, or an image, into electrical
impulses. The retina then sends these impulses,
or nerve signals, to the brain. When the cells
of the macula deteriorate, images are not
received correctly. In early stages, macular
degeneration does not affect vision. Later, if
the disease progresses, people experience wavy or
blurred vision, and, if the condition continues
to worsen, central vision may be completely
lost. People with very advanced macular
degeneration are considered legally blind.
Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of
vision loss, more than cataracts and glaucoma
combined.
Macular degeneration is classified as Dry Age
related Macular Degeneration
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Wet Age related Macular Degeneration.
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Pathophysiology The dry form is more common than
the wet form, with about 85 to 90 percent of AMD
patients diagnosed with dry AMD. The less common
wet AMD usually leads to more serious vision
loss. Dry AMD causes changes of the retinal
pigment epithelium, typically visible as dark
pinpoint areas. The retinal pigment epithelium
plays a critical role in keeping the cones and
rods healthy and functioning well. Accumulation
of waste products from the rods and cones can
result in drusen, which appear as yellow spots.
Areas of chorioretinal atrophy (referred to as
geographic
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atrophy) occur in more advanced cases of dry AMD.
There is no elevated macular scar (disciform
scar), edema, hemorrhage, or exudation. Dry AMD
has three stages, all of which may occur in one
or both eyes
Early AMD - People with early AMD have either
several small drusen or a few medium-sized
drusen. At this stage, there are no symptoms and
no vision loss.
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Intermediate AMD - People with intermediate AMD
have either many medium-sized drusen or one or
more large drusen. Some people see a blurred
spot in the center of their vision. More light
may be needed for reading and other tasks.
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Advanced AMD - In addition to drusen, people with
advanced dry AMD have a breakdown of
light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in
the central retinal area. This breakdown can
cause a blurred spot in the center of your
vision. Over time, the blurred spot may get
bigger and darker, taking more of your central
vision. You may have difficulty reading or
recognizing faces until they are very close to
you.
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Wet AMD occurs when new abnormal blood vessels
develop under the retina in a process called
choroidal neovascularization (abnormal new vessel
formation). Localized macular edema or
hemorrhage may elevate an area of the macula or
cause a localized retinal pigment epithelial
detachment. Eventually, untreated
neovascularization causes a disciform scar under
the macula. Symptoms Dry macular degeneration
symptoms usually develop gradually and without
pain. They may include
Visual distortions, such as straight lines
seeming bent
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Reduced central vision in one or both eyes
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The need for brighter light when reading or doing
close work
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Increased difficulty adapting to low light
levels, such as when entering a dimly lit
restaurant
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Increased blurriness of printed words
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Decreased intensity or brightness of colors
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Difficulty recognizing faces
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What causes macular degeneration? Though macular
degeneration is associated with aging, there is
genetic component to the disease. A strong
association between development of AMD and
presence of a variant of a gene known as
complement factor H (CFH) is observed. This gene
deficiency is associated with almost half of all
potentially blinding cases of macular
degeneration. Other investigators have found
that variants of another gene, complement factor
B, may be involved in development of
AMD. Specific variants of one or both of these
genes, which play a role in the body's immune
responses, have been found in 74 percent of AMD
patients who were studied. Other complement
factors also may be associated with an increased
risk of macular degeneration. Oxygen-deprived
cells in the retina produce a type of protein
called vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF), which triggers the growth of new blood
vessels in the retina. The normal function of
VEGF is to create new blood vessels during
embryonic development, after an injury or to
bypass blocked blood vessels. But too much VEGF
in the eye causes the development of unwanted
blood vessels in the retina that easily break
open and bleed, damaging the macula and
surrounding retina. Risk Factors The biggest
risk factor for Macular Degeneration is age. Your
risk increases as you age, and the disease is
most likely to occur in those 55 and
older. Other risk factors include
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Genetics People with a family history of AMD
are at a higher risk.
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Race Caucasians are more likely to develop the
disease than African-Americans or
Hispanics/Latinos.
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Smoking Smoking doubles the risk of AMD.
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Diagnosis AMD is detected during a comprehensive
eye exam that includes
Visual acuity test - This eye chart test measures
how well you see at various distances.
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Dilated eye exam - Drops are placed in your eyes
to widen the pupils. Your eye care professional
uses a special magnifying lens to examine your
retina and optic nerve for signs of AMD and other
eye problems. After the exam, your close-up
vision may remain blurred for several hours.
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Tonometry - An instrument measures the pressure
inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to
your eye for this test.
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Both forms of age - related macular degeneration
(AMD) are diagnosed by funduscopic examination.
Visual changes can often be detected with an
Amsler grid.
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Color photography and fluorescein angiography are
done when findings suggest wet AMD. Angiography
shows and characterizes subretinal choroidal
neovascular membranes and can delineate areas of
geographic atrophy. Optical coherence tomography
(OCT) aids in identifying intraretinal and
subretinal fluid and can help assess response to
treatment.
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What Treatments Are Available for Macular
Degeneration? Theres no cure for macular
degeneration. Treatment may slow it down or keep
you from losing too much of your vision. Your
options might include
Lifestyle changes - like dieting, exercise,
avoiding smoking, and protecting your eyes from
ultraviolet light.
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Anti-angiogenesis drugs - These medications
aflibercept (Eylea), bevacizumab (Avastin),
pegaptanib (Macugen), and ranibizumab (Lucentis)
-- block the creation of blood vessels and
leaking from the vessels in your eye that cause
wet macular degeneration. Many people whove
taken these drugs got back vision that was lost.
You might need to have this treatment multiple
times.
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Laser therapy - High-energy laser light can
destroy abnormal blood vessels growing in your
eye.
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Photodynamic laser therapy - Your doctor injects
a light-sensitive drug verteporfin (Visudyne)
into your bloodstream, and its absorbed by the
abnormal blood vessels. Your doctor then shines a
laser into your eye to trigger the medication to
damage those blood vessels.
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Low vision aids - These are the devices that have
special lenses or electronic systems to create
larger images of nearby things. They help people
who have vision loss from macular degeneration
make the most of their remaining vision.
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Submacular surgery - This removes abnormal blood
vessels or blood.
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Retinal translocation - A procedure to destroy
abnormal blood vessels under the center of your
macula, where your doctor cant use a laser beam
safely. In this procedure, your doctor rotates
the center of your macula away from the abnormal
blood vessels to a healthy area of your retina.
This keeps you from having scar tissue and more
damage to your retina. Then, your doctor uses a
laser to treat the abnormal blood vessels.
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Important Reminder This information is only
intended to provide guidance, not a definitive
medical advice. Please consult eye doctor about
your specific condition. Only a trained,
experienced board certified eye doctor can
determine an accurate diagnosis and proper
treatment. To schedule an appointment with our
experts for Age Related Macular Degeneration
Management please call us at 91 8451045935, 91-
8451045934 or visit our clinic at Address.