Like most people, you probably know very little about this disease when you learn that you or a loved one has yellow spot disease, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
AMD is over 50 years old. It is a common eye disease that is the most important cause of vision loss in people. The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina at the back of the eye and consists of millions of cells that allow us to see the objects we look at clearly.
The retina converts the image into electrical signals and sends these signals to the relevant region of the brain via the optic nerve. Here, the signals are converted into the images we see.
When the macula is damaged for any reason, the center of where we look may be blurred or dark, and objects may appear broken, bent, or even smaller or larger than they are.
That's it. Therefore, AMD (yellow spot disease in the eye) can prevent us from recognizing faces, driving or reading and writing, doing our daily tasks such as handicrafts and cooking.
Yellow spot eye disease sometimes progresses very slowly and vision loss for many years. Impossible. Sometimes, it may progress rapidly and lead to severe vision loss in one or both eyes and complete blindness. You will find information about the surgery for the disease. At the end of the article, there are answers to the questions that come to mind about the yellow spot.
Symptoms of Yellow Spot Disease
Age-related macular degeneration sometimes does not show any symptoms. may occur without it. However, in brief, we can list the following for yellow spot symptoms;
Darkness in front of eyes
Seeing objects as broken
Mixing of colors
Blurred vision
Who is at higher risk?
-
Advanced age:
Smoking: Research shows that smoking doubles the risk of macular degeneration.
Race: More common in Caucasians.
Familial and genetic predisposition: is at risk. Since the discovery of many genes that increase the risk of AMD, as well as factors such as smoking and unbalanced diet, there is no genetic test that can diagnose the disease before it occurs. Therefore, routine genetic testing before the disease is unnecessary.
Questions to Ask a Retina Specialist
-
Can my age-related macular degeneration disease be treated?
-
How does this disease affect my vision in the future?
-
I should inform you if any symptoms occur ?
-
Should I make changes in my diet, habits and lifestyle?
Since the degree of vision loss varies from person to person, there are different types of assistive vision tools. These are:
-
Reading with high prescription glasses
-
Digital handheld magnifier and video magnifiers
-
Computers with large print and speech systems
-
Talking clocks and calculators
-
Camera and computer technologies using closed-circuit television
Living with AMD
-
Visual loss due to AMD can profoundly affect your life.
-
You may need to reduce your work, leisure and daily activities.
-
You may have to seek more help from family and friends.
-
This can lead to isolation and depression. In addition to receiving psychological treatment when necessary,
-
Some things you can do to help keep you upbeat and motivated.
p>
Can Visual Hallucinations Occur?
Persons with severe vision loss sometimes see They may see detailed pictures of people, animals, buildings or landscapes, which we call mental hallucinations. While this is alarming, it is not a sign of mental illness.
For example, our brain can create images on its own using our visual memory, even though we can't see it, just as some people who have lost an arm or leg still feel their fingers or toes itchy. This feature is a common side effect of severe vision loss in people with advanced AMD. However, it usually goes away after 1-1.5 years.
To reduce hallucinations, it may be helpful to turn on a light or TV, close your eyes or focus on a real object for a few minutes.
Nutrition and Habits Is It Effective in Yellow Spot Disease?
Yes. There is an important link between macular degeneration (AMD) and smoking habit. You can reduce your risk of AMD or slow its progression by doing the following:
-
Avoid smoking!!
-
Exercise regularly.
-
Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels within normal limits.
-
Gain a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, fruits, fish and olive oil.
-
If your vitamin D level is low, take a vitamin D supplement under the supervision of a doctor.
Read: 0
