Age Related Maculopathy Defined
Age related maculopathy attacks the eye’s macula which is located in the central area of the retina. For older individuals, the macula needs to be kept healthy so that vision remains clear and accurate. Many people start having difficulty reading and driving as they age and these problems are often directly related to Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).
As ARMD gets worse, loss of vision progresses and sometimes even results in total blindness. The disease can be recognized by the appearance of drusen, which are yellow deposits that collect underneath the macula and on the retina itself, and by changes in the pigment of the retina. The disease occurs in two forms: dry and wet. Peripheral vision usually remains intact although central vision is drastically impaired.
The retina is what conveys electrical impulses to the brain which allow a person to see. In dry ARMD, drusen accumulates near the retina and can cause it to become detached. In the more severe wet ARMD, blood vessels grow behind the retina and can also cause it to become detached. Wet ARMD can be treated with laser and with certain medications to stop unwanted blood vessels from growing.
Maculapathy is defined as occurring in the very early stages of ARMD when vision is still quite good. However, as the yellow deposits (drusen) continue to grow, the disease progresses to more serious vision loss. To delay the disease’s progression, there are certain vitamins, medications and surgeries that can be performed for both forms of the disease.
Avoiding the disease in the first place is the best thing to do. There are many factors that put a person more at risk for developing the disease and some of these factors cannot be avoided. Things like aging and hereditary play a major role in getting the disease. These risk factors cannot be changed but there are other things that can be avoided if a person has a genetic tendency towards the disease. Smoking, obesity, sun exposure and high blood pressure are all contributing elements to the likelihood of developing ARMD. Age related maculopathy and its progression to ARMD can at least be tolerated if progression of the disease is slowed.
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