Macular Degeneration is a very common eye disease that  affects more people than either cataracts or glaucoma.  Macular Degeneration is the most frequent cause of blindness for patients aged 55 and above in the United States and is estimated to affect over 10 million Americans.

The center of the retina is called the macula.  It is the most sensitive portion of the retina and is responsible for central or “straight ahead” vision as well as the ability to see the detail of faces, reading material, colors and precise vision required for driving a car.

The likelihood that you will develop Macular Disease is directly related to your age.  Your risk of developing Macular Degeneration increases as you grow older.   The severity of macular degeneration can vary widely from a slight distortion of your central vision to a total loss of your central vision.   

Types of Age Related Macular Degeneration

Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet Macular Degeneration accounts for approximately 10-15% of cases.  It is characterized by the growth of new blood vessels-“neovascularization”-underneath the retina.  These new blood vessels are quite fragile and are predisposed to leakage and bleeding.  If swelling, hemorrhaging or scarring occur in the macula it can lead to sudden and severe central vision loss.

Dry Macular Degeneration

Dry Macular Degeneration is by far the more common type of Age Related Macular Degeneration.

Dry  Macular Degeneration is characterized by the formation of small, yellow colored deposits within the retinal layers, which are called “drusen.”  Dry Macular Degeneration results in a slow, progressive decrease in central vision rather than the sudden rapid loss of vision that is typical of Wet Macular Degeneration.  Some people do progress from “dry” macular degeneration to “wet” macular degeneration over their lifetime.

Diagnosis of Macular Degeneration

Having an annual eye examination is the first step in allowing Dr.’s Kessler and Howard to diagnose macular degeneration.  If you are over the age of 50, you should have your eyes examined on an annual basis, especially if you have a family history of Macular Degeneration.  During your examination your pupils will be dilated so that your macula can be thoroughly examined.  It may be advised that you actually take an Amsler Grid home and use it each morning as part of your daily routine to help with the early detection of macular degeneration.

Causes of Macular Degeneration

At present time there is no real definitive cause of Macular Degeneration.  However, there are a number of factors that seem to predispose patients to developing Macular Degeneration.  Factors such as age, family history and genetics seem to be key factors.  In addition, nutrition, overall health including hypertension with arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis, and smoking seem to play a role in increasing the risk of developing macular degeneration.   

Treatment of Macular Degeneration

There are a number of possible treatment options that may slow down or even help prevent vision loss from Macular Degeneration.  Drs. Kessler and Howard might refer you to a retinal specialist if they feel that your macular degeneration requires specialty care and treatment.  In general, treatment of macular degeneration is most effective before any scarring or damage to the retina has occurred.  

VEGF Injections for Macular Degeneration

A great deal of research has been done on treating “wet” macular degeneration based on work done into cancer research and the causes of angiogenesis-the growth of new blood vessels.  It was discovered that there is a protein in the eye which encourages the development of blood vessels called “vascular endothelial growth factor” (VEGF).  Drugs have now been developed to inhibit VEGF so that there is little or no stimulus to grow new blood vessels in the retina.  Treatment with intravitreal injections by a retina specialist has been proven to be very effective in slowing down and in some cases, reversing vision loss from macular degeneration.

If you require one of the above treatment options, Drs. Kessler and Howard  will work in close communication with your retina specialist to ensure that you get the highest quality of treatment and care.