Macular degeneration is an age-related condition popularly referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and is the leading cause of acute vision loss in adults over 50-52. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that approximately 1.8 million people in the country have AMD and a potential 7.3 million are on the substantial risk spectrum category to develop it. Read below to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for AMD.

What is AMD?
AMD is a disease that occurs when there is a change to the macula. The macula is a very tiny portion of the retina that is located on the inside (back) layer of our eyes. AMD is a loss of central vision that can manifest in two forms – dry (atrophic) and wet (exudative). Nearly 85-90% of the senior population is affected by the dry form, while the remaining 10-15% is affected by the wet form.

Causes of AMD
Some of the major causes of AMD include:

• Genetics
• Exposure to ultra-violet rays
• Poor nutrition
• Lethargic lifestyle with minimal exercise

Symptoms of AMD
There are several symptoms of this condition and their development tends to be gradual enough that it is difficult to identify them easily.Here are some of them given below:

• There is a gradual loss in one’s ability to see objects clearly. There is always a need for brighter lighting.
• There is distortion in the shapes of the object seen. This is more prominent when straight lines are observed in the field of vision. Straight lines look crooked or wavy.
• The ability to see color reduces
• There is an empty or hazy area in the center of the vision coupled with an overall reduction in central vision
• Blurriness and trouble recognizing faces
• Retinal damage

As the condition progresses, symptoms are known to get worse. In the case of wet AMD, there is a tendency to get a dark spot right in the center of the vision due to bleeding of blood vessels or fluid leakage.

Treatment for AMD

The treatment methodology varies between dry and wet AMD. Given below are the options that doctors are likely to suggest.

Treatment for wet macular degeneration

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy
This might take a few weeks or months to show an effect on the vision. It is a remedy that can be directly injected into the eye to stop the growth of new blood vessels.

Photodynamic therapy
A special laser is used to close the leaking blood vessel. While this is known to improve the vision, this might take multiple visits to your doctor.

Photocoagulation
A high-energy laser beam is used to destroy the blood vessels that have grown abnormally. This helps to stop bleeding and reduce any further damage to the macula. However, this treatment does not prevent the blood vessels from regrowing, and the process starts all over again.

Treatment for dry macular degeneration
Doctors are known to prescribe eye vitamins for treating dry macular degeneration. In addition, for those who meet a set of criteria, surgery is recommended where a telescopic lens is implanted to replace the eye’s natural lens. This enables the field of vision to get magnified.

Can the right food help manage AMD?
“Eat your carrot, for they are good for the eyes,” is indeed a valid maxim. A healthy meal plan can slow down the progression of AMD, and here’s a list of what can be eaten regularly:

Antioxidants
They help fight any kind of cellular damage to the body. Vitamin A (red-orange pigmented fruits and vegetables and dark green vegetables), Vitamin C (citrus), and Vitamin E (nuts and seeds and their oils) are good sources of antioxidants.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 enables the body to fight inflammation. The three crucial Omega-3s are EPA and DHA, which are primarily found in fish, and the third component ALA is found in nuts and seeds. They also help to lower bad cholesterol levels, which is also linked to AMD.

Zinc and copper
These are trace minerals that help absorb other vitamins better. For example, zinc enables the body to absorb vitamin A supplements properly from the food. Legumes and meats are rich sources of zinc and eggs, and dark leafy vegetables are rich in copper.