MACULAR DEGENERATION

In order to understand the disease Macular Degeneration, it is important to review basic anatomy of the eye. The eye is like a camera. Light enters through the front of the eye and is focused onto the [Retina]. The Retina is analogous to film in the camera. The Retina is a composed of millions of nerve fibers that are sensitive to light. The nerve fibers are highly organized and different nerve fibers are responsible for providing us with vision from different areas of our world. Our peripheral, or side vision, is viewed by certain peripherally oriented nerve fibers. Our central vision, or the vision we use when looking directly at objects (fine print or peoples faces), is seen by an area of centrally oriented nerve fibers known as the [Macula]. The [Macula] provides us with a much more dense concentration of nerve fibers than the area of retina we use to view objects in the periphery and that is why our vision is much better viewing objects that we look directly at rather than from the side. When the Macula is damaged, objects that we nomally see very clearly may look fuzzy or cloud-like. Fine print becomes difficult to read and one may have trouble recognizing faces, T.V. images or find it difficult to thread a needle. Since it is the retina that is damaged, [corrective lenses] do not offer much assistance.

Macular Degeneration takes on two forms; [Dry Macular Degeneration] and [Wet Macular Degeneration]. The Dry form of Macular Degeneration progresses very slowly and with considerably less devastation to vision. There is no treatment for the dry form. Dry Macular Degeneration may be caused by damage from [Ultra Violet radiation]. Another hypothesis for the cause of the dry form is that biological components and waste products of cells build up in the macula over time, rubbing on and slowly wearing out the sensitive nerve fibers of the macula. Research suggests that vision loss from the Dry form of Macular Degeneration may be slowed down or stopped by taking vitamins high in [anti-oxidants] such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, Zinc or Selenium. This hypothesis remains unproven.

The Wet form of Macular Degeneration is caused when blood vessels beneath the retina leak fluid into the macula. The fluid collects under the macula and pushes on it, causing the fibers to distort, separate and drown. Wet Macular Degeneration destroys a larger area of the visual field than the dry form. If Wet Macular Degeneration is caught early enough, doctors can use a laser to seal the leaky vessels to contain the damage. Unfortunately this is often not enough and vision is lost in the central field.

If you have a family history of Macula Degeneration or are concerned for yourself, ask your doctor If she/he will provide you with a home testing device known as an [Amsler Grid]. The [Amsler Grid] is a square grid of straight lines with a black spot in the center. You can test your macula by holding the grid at 14", covering one eye and staring at the black spot. Test each eye separately in good light .While you focus on the spot, observe the lines that make up the grid. The grid should look perfectly square, all the lines intact with no distortion. You should see no black spots, no whited-out areas and all 4 corners of the grid should be intact. Sample grid (not to scale).

For more information on macular degeneration, visit www.macd.net or www.macular-degeneration.org.