What is macular degeneration?
The point where the images coming to our eyes during visual function are collected and focused is called the macula (yellow spot). Damage to this center is called macular degeneration. The type that usually occurs in older ages is called age-related macular degeneration. However, there are many types of macular degeneration that can also be seen in young people. The reason is not exactly clear. It is thought to be present in approximately 25 million people worldwide.
What are the types of age-related macular degeneration?
Seeing small spots called drusen in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration begins to appear in the center. Many eyes with drusen do not develop serious vision loss. This type of macular degeneration is called dry type. When the dry type reaches very advanced stages, vision loss may occur. The dry type can sometimes turn into the wet type, which is characterized by new vascular formation and edema. In this case, there is a very rapid and serious vision loss.
Macular degeneration is generally seen in both eyes. But usually one of them starts before the other, and this disease that develops in one eye cannot be noticed immediately. At the beginning of the disease, the patient complains of broken and crooked vision. After a while, you start to see a gray spot in the middle, and as the disease progresses, the spot turns black.
How is age-related macular degeneration diagnosed?
Age-related macular degeneration is detected during eye examination. emerges. In this examination, the visual center is examined with special lenses. Yellow spot sections are examined with an eye tomography device called OCT. In some cases, your doctor may request an eye angiogram. Dry type macular degeneration can be easily distinguished from wet type by OCTor angiography.
In addition to follow-ups by the ophthalmologist, patients should check themselves regularly at home with the Amsler grid card.
If macular degeneration changes to wet type. It can be easily understood this way.
How is macular degeneration treated?
It is not possible to treat or prevent dry type macular degeneration. Attempts are made to increase vision with devices that act as magnifiers to help vision. Telescopic glasses can also be used.
In wet macular degeneration, a vascular structure develops that destroys the visual cells in the visual center, and scar tissue develops after reducing vision. There are two types of treatment for wet macular degeneration before scar tissue develops. The first of these is to regularly take vitamins containing antioxidants and lutein. The second is the application of drugs that prevent new vascular formation into the eye at intervals deemed appropriate by the ophthalmologist. Dr. Nusret Özdemir
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