Macular Degeneration (ARMD)

The paper-thin macula is the central portion of the retina, which is the area of the back of the eye that is filled with cells sensitive to light (photosensitivity) that are also able to send certain signals to the brain.

An Informative Guide to ARMD-Age Related Macular Degeneration

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed age-related-macular-degeneration, often known as ARMD, you probably have a number of different concerns or questions about this rather common disease of the eye, especially for older adults. But, what exactly is ARMD, are there any noticeable symptoms or preventative measures, and what, if any, new treatments are available?

Here are the answers to those questions and more about one of the leading cause of legal blindness in Americans over the age of 65.

What is ARMD?

To better understand ARMD, we must first learn a bit about the fascinating organ of sight and how it allows us to see.

The paper-thin macula is the central portion of the retina, which is the area of the back of the eye that is filled with cells sensitive to light (photosensitivity) that are also able to send certain signals to the brain.

Because of the macula, we are able to see colors, sharp, fine details, and have straight-ahead vision so when this delicate area becomes damaged the results are blind spots and distorted or blurry vision, making it increasingly difficult for one to perform the simplest of daily activities.

Two Forms Of Age Related Macular Degeneration

Dry ARMD, consists of three stages

1-Early, where there are few small or medium-sized drusen but no signs of vision loss or other symptoms,

2-Intermediate, when many medium-sized or one or more larger drusen deposits are present causing the need for more light for things like reading, or perhaps a blurry area right in the center of the field of vision.

3-In the last or Advanced stage of age related macular degeneration, there are many large drusen and a breakdown of the light-sensitive cells has already begun, causing larger blurry spots to appear that will eventually widen and darken over time until the result a total loss of one's central vision.

Dr. Ringold Cure For ARMD

Wet Macular Degeneration

As these membranes weaken and break down, new and fragile blood vessels grow that may leak blood and fluids, scarring the macula and causing damage to the eyesight rather quickly.

Sometimes in as little as a few days or weeks.

With the rarer although more serious wet macular degeneration, there is an abnormal growth of blood vessels behind the macula causing light-sensitive cells to die as well as the membrane known as the RPE (Retinal Pigmented Epithelium), which, along with the Bruch's membrane, work to support the retina.

The Symptoms and Risk Factors of ARMD

Unfortunately, during the earliest stages of macular degeneration, particularly if only one of the eyes is affected, there are often no symptoms or warning signs at all.

Furthermore, neither type of the condition causes any pain, making it even more difficult to detect without the help of an eye care professional and a diagnosis.

The risk factors for ARMD are numerous, although some of them are avoidable except for the most obvious and inevitable risk, which is growing older.

Besides age, other risks for developing macular degeneration include obesity, gender, smoking, having a family history of the disease, overexposure to sunlight, poor diet, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

New Hope for Macular Degeneration

And, it's estimated that in just the next decade alone that ARMD cases will be near the three million mark with that number growing to more than 17 million in the next forty years.

Because of these startling facts doctors, researchers, and scientists have been working diligently to find effective treatments, and, hopefully, a cure for both types of macular degeneration.

And, there is definitely promise of new hope for those affected by the disease on the horizon as a variety of potential treatments are being researched and discovered including surgical procedures, experimental therapies, and clinical trials of new drugs. Besides exploring issues such as diet, genetics, and environmental factors, ARMD, research also includes determining the effectiveness of methods of treatment such as the transplant of retinal cells, radiation and gene therapies, and medication that will either slow or completely prevent the disease.

Retinal and cortical implants, both still in the experimental stages, are devices that may be able to restore vision for those suffering from wet ARMD. There are also studies underway using agents that will prevent the growth of new blood vessels underneath the macula, and possibly even a computer chip that would be implanted within the retina to stimulate vision.

Learn how to protect your eyesight and how to prevent eye diseases

Through the relatively new and expanding science of gene manipulation, researchers at the University of Florida have figured out a way to program the stem cells from bone marrow to actually repair the damaged retinas of mice. Hopefully, this breakthrough will advance as a cure for humans who are suffering from retinal damage.

While there is yet to be a cure for the advanced stage of dry macular degeneration that will totally stop vision loss, doctors do know that high doses of zinc and antioxidant vitamins can help to delay or even prevent the intermediate stage from progressing further.

And, remember that a diagnosis of age related macular degeneration, does not mean the eyes should not still be used for the normal activities of daily life such as reading or watching television as this will not cause the damage to increase or worsen in anyway. Until a cure is discovered Visual Aids for Macular Degeneration can greatly improve one's quality of life.