Wet Macular Degeneration is a chronic eye disorder that results in blurred vision or a blind spot in the central vision in people over 55. It occurs when some unnatural blood vessels start growing under the macula, the section responsible for the clear central vision in the retina.
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Wet Macular Degeneration Symptoms
The symptoms of Wet Macular Degeneration appear suddenly and worsen rapidly.
Symptoms include:
- Visual Distortions: Straight lines are perceived as wavy or crooked.
- Reduced Central Vision: Central vision has dark, blurry areas or whiteouts.
- Diminished Color Intensity: Colors look duller and less intense.
- Difficulty Reading or Recognizing Faces: It becomes hard to read small print or identify people by faces.
Note: Wet Macular degeneration doesn’t affect the side vision therefore it doesn’t cause total blindness.
Causes
No one knows The exact cause of wet macular degeneration, however, it tends to appear in people who have Dry Macular Degeneration; and it is around 20% of all individuals with age-related macular degeneration are affected by the wet form.
- Abnormal Blood Vessel Growth: A layer of blood vessels known as the choroid, creates these new blood vessels in the macula. It causes the retina to be dysfunctional when the vessels start leaking fluid or blood.
- Fluid Buildup in The Back of The Eye: If the fluid leaks from the choroid, there is a possibility that it will gather between the retinal pigment epithelium and retinal layers. It causes irregularities in the macula layers. It results in vision loss or distortion.
Risk Factors
Some factors may increase your risk of macular degeneration including:
- Age: Macular Degeneration is the most common disease in people over 55.
- Smoking: Smoking cigarettes or being regularly exposed to tobacco smoke raises your chances of developing macular degeneration.
- Family history and genetics: Also, it has a genetic component due to some identified genes in connection with the same.
- Race: In white people, macular degeneration is more common.
- Cardiovascular disease: You may be at higher risk of macular degeneration if you have diseases that affect your heart and blood vessels.
- Obesity: Research indicates that obese individuals are at a higher risk of early or intermediate macular degeneration, the condition becoming worse in comparison with those who are not overweight.
Prevention
It’s important to have routine eye check-ups to identify early signs of macular degeneration. You may lower the chances of getting wet macular degeneration by doing these.
- Manage all other medical conditions: If you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, take your medicine and follow your doctor’s instructions for controlling the condition.
- No Smoking: Smokers tend to suffer from age-related macular degeneration more than nonsmokers. So you have to quit smoking.
- Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly: If you need to lose weight, reduce your calorie intake and increase the amount of exercise.
- Healthy Diet: Choose a diet that contains fruits and vegetables. These foods contain antioxidants, vitamins that reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration.
- Include Omega-3 in your diet: Include fish, nuts, and seeds in your diet that contain Omega-3 fatty acids.
Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment Options
- Anti-VEGF Injections: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is the most common treatment. Medications like ranibizumab (Lucentis), aflibercept (Eylea), and bevacizumab (Avastin) are injected into the eye To stop the development of abnormal blood vessels in the eyes.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): PDT with a light-sensitive drug called verteporfin which is activated by laser light to destroy abnormal blood vessels.
- Laser Surgery: Laser surgery is used to directly destroy the abnormal blood vessels. However, this method is less commonly used because it can damage the surrounding healthy tissue.
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Conclusion
Wet Macular Degeneration is a serious eye condition that can greatly affect your quality of life. It is important to detect it quickly and manage signs or symptoms.
Knowing about its risk factors, signs, and treatment methods will help you to do something before it happens. The most effective prevention against this difficult disorder is frequent eye check-ups along with healthy living habits.
FAQ:
1. What is wet macular degeneration?
Wet Macular Degeneration is a chronic eye disorder that results in blurred vision or a blind spot in the central vision in people over 55.
2. What is the difference between wet and dry macular degeneration?
Wet Macular Degeneration is characterized by abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina, while Dry Macular Degeneration is an eye condition where the central part of the retina, called the macula, gets thinner and breaks down slowly, which results in a gradual loss of central vision.
3. What is wet age-related macular degeneration?
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet-AMD) is a chronic eye disorder that results in blurred vision or a blind spot in the central vision.