Age-related macular degeneration: Early detection and timely treatment may help preserve vision

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of blindness in adults over the age of 60. As its name implies, the condition primarily affects the macula, which is the region of the retina responsible for central vision. A person whose macula is impacted by retinal disease may develop difficulty with tasks such as reading and driving, but maintain good peripheral vision. If you have ARMD, understanding the signs and symptoms, proper monitoring, early detection of advancing disease, and timely treatment are all key to preserving vision. Stages of age-related macular degeneration ARMD may be classified as early, intermediate, or advanced, depending on physical changes visible to an ophthalmologist during an eye exam. Early ARMD is characterized by the presence of small yellow deposits known as drusen in the layer behind the retina. Drusen can be found in healthy eyes as people age, but when they become numerous, a diagnosis of ARMD may be made. Someone with early ARMD may not experience any visual symptoms, and is likely to have good visual function when measured using standard methods such as an eye chart. When the number and size of drusen reach a certain threshold, ARMD is graded as intermediate, which carries a higher risk of progressing to advanced ARMD and vision loss. Those with intermediate ARMD may start to have early symptoms such as distortion in their central vision or mild loss of visual acuity, although this is not always the case. A designation of a...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Eye Health Source Type: blogs