By Kimberly Green


Generally, of all the causes of vision loss, macular degeneration is among the leading ones. It is more dangerous than cataracts and the glaucoma. This condition is caused by damage of the central region of your retina. The central region is known as the macula and it is the one charged with ensuring that your vision is centrally focused. Nevertheless, damage on the macula can be managed by use of macular degeneration tablets.

Usually, the macula generally controls the ability to read, see objects clearly, drive, and recognize colors and faces. If compared to the camera, the macula acts as the central as well as the most sensitive area of the film. When it is working properly, detailed images are collected at center of the field and then they are sent to optic nerve in your brain where they become interpreted as sight.

Damage of the cells in the macula leads to a distorted reception of images. During the early stages of this condition, your vision is not affected at all. Nevertheless, once the disease advances, one tends to experience blurry vision and in extreme cases of the condition worsening, the central vision may be entirely lost.As the condition is at the peak, the individuals are taken to be legally blind. In as much as their retina still functions, the damage on the central vision makes them have a peripheral vision as compared to the central vision that enhances clarity.

If it is age related, macular degeneration or AMD progresses through three stages. The initial stage is where most individuals do not experience or suspect any vision loss. Due to this, it is crucial to have regular check ups. To identify this early AMD, yellow deposits beneath the retina are observed as medium-sized drusen.

The second stage is known as the intermediate AMD. In this stage, an individual tends to experience some type of vision loss regardless of no identifiable symptoms. Nevertheless, a thorough exam with certain tests can confirm pigment changes or evidence of larger drusen in the retina. Thereafter, the condition progresses to the late AMD stage where vision loss is now noticed.

The specific factors that cause this condition are not conclusively known. Nevertheless, what is known about this disease is the causes are complex and could be environmental or heredity. At the same time, scientists are working to understand what causes the deterioration of the macula cells to come up with cure for this condition.

Normally, the biggest risk factor for this condition is age. Usually, the risk increases with increase with age, and the condition is likely to arise in people who are 55 years or older. There are other risk factors such as genetics, where people whose families have the history of AMD have a higher risk. Smoking is another risk factor whereby smokers increases their risk of getting this disease by two.

Currently, the cure for the macular degeneration is not known. However, there are several things a patient who have been diagnosed with this condition can do to slow down the rate of progression, or to reduce the risk of getting this disease. For instance, lifestyle changes such as dieting, avoiding smoking, and exercise can help, as well as protecting your eyes from the UV light.




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