DRY AND WET MACULAR DEGENERATION
A common cause of detailed vision loss in people over 60 is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is a progressive chronic disease. Though AMD is painless and does not lead to blindness, it can still be very bothersome. It involves continuing to see large shapes and light with distorted details, such as letters and colours.
There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration: the dry variant and the wet variant. Dry AMD is less severe. The first signs are drooping eyes or the accumulation of cholesterol and fats in the eye. With further accumulation, the retina is affected. This leads to the cells of the retina being damaged, causing 'black' or 'blind' spots in the visual area. As a result, visual acuity slowly decreases.
Wet AMD occurs in 15% to 20% of cases. The wet form can arise spontaneously, but it usually develops from the dry form. In wet AMD, haemorrhages and fluid on the macula occur. As a result, the macula is no longer well supplied with blood, causing new small blood vessels to enter the retina uncontrollably. In the wet form of AMD, visual acuity decreases faster than in the dry form. The dry form is not treatable, but the wet form can be stabilised by injections.
.jpg)
SYMPTOMS
Macular degeneration can be identified in a few ways. For example, you may experience distorted vision, making straight lines appear wavy or curved. You may see spots in the centre of the visual field or have difficulty distinguishing faces. Furthermore, reduced vision in the dark and impaired colour perception may occur.
