Macular degeneration, also known as 'macular degeneration'; It is a retinal disease that causes central vision loss. As a result of central vision deterioration; A feeling of inadequacy occurs in activities that require basic visual functions, such as driving, reading, or watching television. Other symptoms of macular degeneration include seeing jumbled and wavy text, seeing broken lines, and seeing the surrounding objects and colors faded.
Macular degeneration occurs due to damage to the macular region of the retina of the eye and changes in its structure. Although the real reason is not fully clarified; Aging, smoking, improper nutrition, and a family history of macular degeneration may be considered among the risk factors.
Macular degeneration is basically divided into two groups: dry type and wet type. Dry type; It is caused by the accumulation of metabolic residues called drusen in the visual cells in the macular degeneration and damage to the visual cells. Age type; It is a condition in which edema can be observed along with leakage and bleeding from abnormally developing blood vessels that grow under the macular degeneration.
In the diagnosis of macular degeneration, along with the retinal examination of the ophthalmologist; Macular optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) examinations are evaluated.
Patients are generally in the initial stages. They describe curvature and broken vision in straight and regular lines. To reduce the risk of macular degeneration; One should not smoke, alcohol intake should be restricted, green leafy vegetables and fruits should be emphasized in the diet and antioxidant-rich foods should be consumed, systemic disorders such as hypertension and diabetes should be kept under control, and weight gain should be avoided.
In the treatment approach, regular healthy lifestyle habits are recommended along with antioxidant-containing medications that contain vitamins and minerals necessary for the eye in dry type macular degeneration. Intraocular needle treatments can be applied to treat poor vascularity and edema in wet macular degeneration.
Your advanced age is known Since it is the most important risk factor, all patients over the age of 65 should have routine annual eye checks. In addition, it is important for patients with risk factors such as a family history of macular degeneration, smoking and alcohol use, diabetes and hypertension to be monitored more closely and have eye examinations and follow-ups every 6 months.
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